Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigating Graph Clustering For The Power Grid, Gabriela Radu, Emilie Hogan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Given time series data from multiple power generators containing measurements of phase angle taken at many points in time. The goal is to cluster together generators which have similar phase angle behavior.

In order to achieve this goal, Fast Fourier Transforms and Euclidean distances were used to quantify similarities between generators. A graph was created in which two generators were connected if they were sufficiently similar (known as a nearest neighbor graph). Using different nearest neighbor values, matrices were generated based on similarities between generators. Specific time intervals were taken from the large data set to assess the time dependency …

The Standard New Astronomy Cryostat For Sofia: A Design For Cryogen-Free Infrared Astronomy, Carey F. Scott, Jeffrey Van Cleve, Eric Burgh, Earl T. Daley, Ali Kashani, Zaheer Ali

STAR Program Research Presentations

Astronomy at infrared wavelengths requires optical instruments that operate at low temperatures, which is typically done using liquid cryogens such as nitrogen and helium. These cryogens are costly and limit the operational time of the science instrument. The Standard New Astronomy Cryostat for SOFIA (SNACS) will provide a design for a helium cryocooler-cooled cryostat that meets the stringent airworthiness requirements of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and can be used by future instrument builders to reduce the cost and risk of their instrument design and development. The SNACS dewar will provide approximately 3.4 x 10^-1 cubic meters …

Flitecam Data Process Validation, Jesse K. Tsai, Sachindev S. Shenoy, Brent Cedric Nicklas, Zaheer Ali, William T. Reach

STAR Program Research Presentations

FLITECAM Data Processing Validation

Many of the challenges that come from working with astronomical imaging arise from the reduction of raw data into scientifically meaningful data. First Light Infrared Test CAMera (FLITECAM) is an infrared camera operating in the 1.0–5.5 μm waveband on board SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy). Due to the significant noise from the atmosphere and the camera itself, astronomers have developed many methods to reduce the effects of atmospheric and instrumental emission. The FLITECAM Data Reduction Program (FDRP) is a program, developed at SOFIA Science Center, subtracts darks, removes flats, and dithers images.

This project contains …

Designing A Cold Source To Be Integrated With The Existing Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator, Rebecca L. Salvemini, Carey Baxter, Zaheer Ali, Greg Perryman, Robert Thompson, Daniel Nolan

STAR Program Research Presentations

The stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA), is a modified Boeing 747-SP with a 2.5m telescope mounted inside. SOFIA flies at an altitude of 45,000 feet, above 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere, allowing transmission of most infrared radiation. SOFIA has seven different science instruments (SI) that can be used to collect astronomical data, enabling scientists to look at many different wavelengths of infrared and visible radiation.

Juxtaposing Nasa’S Aeronet Aod With Carb Pm Data Over The San Joaquin Valley To Facilitate Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (Misr) Pm Pollution Research, John Kanemoto

STAR Program Research Presentations

Airborne particulate matter (PM) has been shown to increase the risk for asthma, chronic bronchitis, cardiopulmonary complications, and respiratory cell membrane damage/infection/leakage. PM levels are currently analyzed from two perspectives: stationary land-based monitoring (LBM) sites and total Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) atmospheric column measurements. Both perspectives often leave miles of space between measuring locations and will have a continually increasing cost from introducing/maintaining sites. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) satellite team hopes to begin investigating/archiving PM levels comprehensively via inputting MISR AOD measurements into a function/model which predicts the amount of ground level PM.

In the future, multivariable spatial correlations …

Big Data: Immediate Opportunities And Longer Term Challenges, Jens Pohl, Kym Jason Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

The transformation of words, locations, and human interactions into digital data forms the basis of trend detection and information extraction opportunities that can be automated with the increasing availability of relatively inexpensive computer storage and processing technology. Trend detection, which focuses on what, is facilitated by the ability to apply analytics to an entire corpus of data instead of a random sample. Since the corpus essentially includes all data within a population there is no need to apply any of the precautions that are in order to ensure the representativeness of a sample in traditional statistical analysis. Several examples are …

The Water Footprint Of Biofuel Produced From Forest Wood Residue Via A Mixed Alcohol Gasification Process, Yi-Wen Chiu, May Wu

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Forest residue has been proposed as a feasible candidate for cellulosic biofuels. However, the number of studies assessing its water use remains limited. This work aims to analyze the impacts of forest-based biofuel on water resources and quality by using a water footprint approach. A method established here is tailored to the production system, which includes softwood, hardwood, and short-rotation woody crops. The method is then applied to selected areas in the southeastern region of the United States to quantify the county-level water footprint of the biofuel produced via a mixed alcohol gasification process, under several logistic systems, and at …

Compressed Air Foam And Structural Firefighting Research, Christopher Dicus, Thomas Korman, Casey Grant, Steve Lohr, Dan Madrzykowski, Fred Mowrer, Chris Pascual, Dan Turner

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Burning Question: Why Is Fire Season Becoming Worse?, Christopher Dicus

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Core-Scale Solute Transport Model Selection Using Monte Carlo Analysis, Bwalya Malama, Kristopher L. Kuhlman, Scott C. James

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Model applicability to core-scale solute transport is evaluated using breakthrough data from column experiments conducted with conservative tracers tritium and sodium-22 , and the retarding solute uranium-232 . The three models considered are single-porosity, double-porosity with single-rate mobile-immobile mass-exchange, and the multirate model, which is a deterministic model that admits the statistics of a random mobile-immobile mass-exchange rate coefficient. The experiments were conducted on intact Culebra Dolomite core samples. Previously, data were analyzed using single-porosity and double-porosity models although the Culebra Dolomite is known to possess multiple types and scales of porosity, and to exhibit multirate mobile-immobile-domain mass transfer characteristics …

The Lick Agn Monitoring Project 2011: Fe Ii Reverberation From The Outer Broad-Line Region, Aaron J. Barth, Anna Pancoast, Vardha N. Bennert, Brendon J. Brewer, Gabriela Canalizo, Alexei V. Filippenko, Elinor L. Gates, Jenny E. Greene, Weidong Li, Matthew A. Malkan, David J. Sand, Daniel Stern, Tommaso Treu, Jong-Hak Woo, Roberto J. Assef, Hyun-Jin Bae, Tabitha Buehler, S. Bradley Cenko, Kelsey I. Clubb, Michael C. Cooper, Aleksander M. Diamond-Stanic, Sebastian F. Hönig, Michael D. Joner, C. David Laney, Mariana S. Lazarova, A. M. Nierenberg, Jeffrey M. Silverman, Erik J. Tollerud, Jonelle L. Walsh

Physics

The prominent broad Fe ii emission blends in the spectra of active galactic nuclei have been shown to vary in response to continuum variations, but past attempts to measure the reverberation lag time of the optical Fe ii lines have met with only limited success. Here we report the detection of Fe ii reverberation in two Seyfert 1 galaxies, NGC 4593 and Mrk 1511, based on data from a program carried out at Lick Observatory in Spring 2011. Light curves for emission lines including Hβ and Fe ii were measured by applying a fitting routine to decompose the spectra into …

An Evaluation Of Interactive Test-Driven Labs With Webide In Cs0, David S. Janzen, John Clements, Michael Hilton

Computer Science and Software Engineering

WebIDE is a framework that enables instructors to develop and deliver online lab content with interactive feedback. The ability to create lock-step labs enables the instructor to guide students through learning experiences, demonstrating mastery as they proceed. Feedback is provided through automated evaluators that vary from simple regular expression evaluation to syntactic parsers to applications that compile and run programs and unit tests. This paper describes WebIDE and its use in a CS0 course that taught introductory Java and Android programming using a test-driven learning approach. We report results from a controlled experiment that compared the use of dynamic WebIDE …

Update On Beam Induced Rf Heating In The Lhc, B. Salvant, O. Aberle, G. Arduini, R. Assmann, B. Baglin, M.J. Barnes, W. Bartmann, P. Baudrenghien, O. Berrig, C. Bracco, E. Bravin, G. Bregliozzi, R. Bruce, A. Bertarelli, F. Carra, G. Cattenoz, F. Caspers, S. Claudet, H. Day, M. Garlasche, L. Gentini, B. Goddard, A. Grudiev, B. Henrist, R. Jones, O. Kononenko, G. Lanza, L. Lari, T. Mastoridis, V. Mertens, E. Métral, N. Mounet, J.E. Muller, A.A. Nosych, J.L. Nougaret, S. Persichelli, A.M. Piguiet, S. Redaelli, F. Roncarolo, G. Rumolo, B. Salvachua, M. Sapinski, R. Schmidt, E. Shaposhnikova, L. Tavian, M. Timmins, J. Uythoven, A. Vidal, J. Wenninger, D. Wollmann, M. Zerlauth, P. Fassnacht, S. Jakobsen, M. Deile

Physics

Since June 2011 the rapid increase of the luminosity performance of the LHC has come at the expense of both increased temperature and pressure of specific, near-beam, LHC equipment. In some cases, this beam induced heating has caused delays while equipment cool-down, beam dumps and even degradation of some devices. This contribution gathers the observations of beam induced heating, attributed to longitudinal beam coupling impedance, their current level of understanding and possible actions planned to be implemented during the 1st LHC Long Shutdown (LS1) in 2013-2014.

Investigations Of The Lhc Emittance Blow-Up During The 2012 Proton Run, M. Kuhn, G. Arduini, P. Baudrenghien, J. Emery, A. Guerrero, W. Hofle, V. Kain, M. Lamont, T. Mastoridis, F. Roncarolo, M. Sapinski, M. Schaumann, R. Steinhagen, G. Trad, D. Valuch

Physics

About 30 % of the potential luminosity performance is lost through the different phases of the LHC cycle, mainly due to transverse emittance blow-up. Measuring the emittance growth is a difficult task with high intensity beams and changing energies. Improvements of the LHC transverse profile instrumentation helped to study various effects. A breakdown of the growth through the different phases of the LHC cycle is given as well as a comparison with the data from the LHC experiments for transverse beam size. In 2012 a number of possible sources and remedies have been studied. Among these are intra beam scattering, …

Search For 14.4 Kev Solar Axions From M1 Transition Of 57fe With Cuore Crystals, F. Alessandria, R Ardito, D. R. Artusa, F.T. Avignone Iii, O. Azzolini, M Balata, T.I. Banks, G. Bari, J. Beeman, F Bellini, A. Bersani, M. Biassoni, T. Bloxham, C Brofferio, C Bucci, X.Z. Cai, L. Canonica, S Capelli, L. Carbone, L. Cardani, M. Carrettoni, N. Casali, N. Chott, M Clemenza, C Cosmelli, O Cremonesi, R.J. Creswick, I Dafinei, A. Dally, V. Datskov, A. De Biasi, M.P. Decowski, M. M. Deninno, S Di Domizio, M.L. Di Vacri, L. Ejzak, R. Faccini, D.Q. Fang, H.A. Farach, E. Ferri, F Ferroni, E Fiorini, M.A. Franceschi, S.J. Freedman, B.K. Fujikawa, A Giachero, L. Gironi, A Giuliani, J. Goett, P Gorla, C. Gotti, E Guardincerri, T. D. Gutierrez, E.E. Haller, K. Han, K.M. Heeger, H.Z. Huang, R. Kadel, G. Keppel, L. Kogler, Yu. G. Kolomensky, D. Lenz, Y.L. Li, C. Ligi, X. Liu, Y.G. Ma, C. Maiano, M. Maino, M. Martinez, R.H. Maruyama, N. Moggi, S Morganti, T. Napolitano, S. Newman, S Nisi, C Nones, E.B. Norman, A Nucciotti, F. Orio, D. Orlandi, J.L. Ouellet, M Pallavicini, E. Palmieri, L. Pattavina, M Pavan, M Pedretti, G Pessina, S Pirro, E Previtali, V. Rampazzo, F. Rimondi, C Rosenfeld, C. Rusconi, S Sangiorgio, N.D. Scielzo, M Sisti, A.R. Smith, L. Taffarello, M. Tenconi, W.D. Tian, C. Tomei, S. Trentalange, G Ventura, M Vignati, B.S. Wang, H.W. Wang, C. A. Whitten Jr., T. Wise, A. Woodcraft, L Zanotti, C. Zarra, B.X. Zhu, S. Zucchelli

Physics

We report the results of a search for axions from the 14.4 keV M1 transition from ⁵⁷Fe in the core of the sun using the axio-electric effect in TeO₂bolometers. The detectors are 5

× 5 × 5 cm³ crystals operated at about 10 mK in a facility used to test bolometers for the CUORE experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. An analysis of 43.65 kg⋅d of data was made using a newly developed low energy trigger which was optimized to reduce the energy threshold of the detector. An upper limit of 0.58 …

Investigation Of Biochemical Biorefinery Sizing And Environmental Sustainability Impacts For Conventional Bale System And Advanced Uniform Biomass Logistics Designs, Andrew M. Argo, Eric Cd Tan, Daniel Inman, Matt H. Langholtz, Lawrence M. Eaton, Jacob J. Jacobson, Christopher T. Wright, David J. Muth Jr., May M. Wu, Yi-Wen Chiu, Robin L. Graham

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

The 2011 US Billion-Ton Update1 estimates that there are enough agricultural and forest resources to sustainably provide enough biomass to displace approximately 30% of the country’s current petroleum consumption. A portion of these resources are inaccessible at current cost targets with conventional feedstock supply systems because of their remoteness or low yields. Reliable analyses and projections of US biofuels production depend on assumptions about the supply system and biorefinery capacity, which, in turn, depend on economics, feedstock logistics, and sustainability. A cross-functional team has examined optimal combinations of advances in feedstock supply systems and biorefinery capacities with rigorous design information, …

Validation Of Techniques To Mitigate Copper Surface Contamination In Cuore, F. Alessandria, R. Ardito, D.R. Artusa, F.T. Avignone Iii, O. Azzolini, M. Balata, T.I. Banks, G. Bari, J. Beeman, F. Bellini, A. Bersani, M. Biassoni, T. Bloxham, C. Brofferio, C. Bucci, X.Z. Cai, L. Canonica, S. Capelli, L. Carbone, L. Cardani, M. Carrettoni, N. Casali, N. Chott, M. Clemenza, C. Cosmelli, O. Cremonesi, R.J. Creswich, I. Dafinei, A. Dally, V. Datskov, A. De Biasi, M.M. Deninno, S. Di Domizio, M.L. Di Vacri, L. Ejzak, R. Faccini, D.Q. Fang, H.A. Farach, E. Ferri, F. Ferroni, E. Fiorini, M.A. Franceschi, S.J. Freedman, B.K. Fujikawa, A. Giachero, L. Gironi, A. Giuliani, J. Goett, A. Goodsell, P. Gorla, C. Gotti, E. Guardincerri, T.D. Gutierrez, E.E. Haller, K. Han, K.M. Heeger, H.Z. Huang, R. Kadel, K. Kazkaz, G. Keppel, L. Kogler, Yu. G. Kolomensky, D. Lenz, Y.L. Li, C. Ligi, X. Liu, Y.G. Ma, C. Maiano, M. Maino, M. Martinez, R.H. Maruyama, Y. Mei, N. Moggi, S. Morganti, T. Napolitano, S. Newman, S. Nisi, C. Nones, E.B. Norman, A. Nucciotti, F. Orio, D. Orlandi, J.L. Ouellet, M. Pallavicini, V. Palmieri, L. Pattavina, M. Pavan, M. Pedretti, G. Pessina, S. Pirro, E. Previtali, V. Rampazzo, R. Reil, F. Rimondi, C. Rosenfeld, C. Rusconi, S. Sangiorgio, N.D. Scielzo, M. Sisti, A.R. Smith, L. Sparks, F. Stivanello, L. Taffarello, M. Tenconi, W.D. Tian, C. Tomei, S. Trentalange, G. Ventura, M. Vignati, B.S. Wang, H.W. Wang, C.A. Whitten Jr, T. Wise, A. Woodcraft, L. Zanotti, C. Zarra, B.X. Zhu, S. Zucchelli

Physics

In this article we describe the background challenges for the CUORE experiment posed by surface contamination of inert detector materials such as copper, and present three techniques explored to mitigate these backgrounds. Using data from a dedicated test apparatus constructed to validate and compare these techniques we demonstrate that copper surface contamination levels better than 10⁻⁷- 10⁻⁸ Bq/cm² are achieved for ²³⁸U and ²³²Th. If these levels are reproduced in the final CUORE apparatus the projected 90% C.L. upper limit on the number of background counts in the region of interest is 0.02–0.03 counts/keV/kg/y …

The Extended Narrow-Line Region Of Two Type-I Quasi-Stellar Objects, Semyeong Oh, Jong-Hak Woo, Vardha N. Bennert, Bruno Jungwiert, Martin Haas, Christian Leipski, Marcus Albrecht

Physics

We investigate the narrow-line region (NLR) of two radio-quiet QSOs, PG1012+008 and PG1307+085, using high signal-to-noise spatially resolved long-slit spectra obtained with FORS1 at the Very Large Telescope. Although the emission is dominated by the point-spread function of the nuclear source, we are able to detect extended NLR emission out to several kiloparsec scales in both QSOs by subtracting the scaled central spectrum from outer spectra. In contrast to the nuclear spectrum, which shows a prominent blue wing and a broad line profile of the [Oiii] line, the extended emission reveals no clear signs of large-scale outflows. Exploiting the wide …

The Low-Luminosity End Of The Radius-Luminosity Relationship For Active Galactic Nuclei, Misty C. Bentz, Kelly D. Denney, Catherine J. Grier, Aaron J. Barth, Bradley M. Peterson, Marianne Vestergaard, Vardha N. Bennert, Gabriela Canalizo, Gisella De Rosa, Alexei V. Filippenko, Elinor L. Gates, Jenny E. Greene, Weidong Li, Matthew A. Malkan, Richard W. Pogge, Daniel Stern, Tommaso Treu, Jong-Hak Woo

Physics

We present an updated and revised analysis of the relationship between the Hβ broad-line region (BLR) radius and the luminosity of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Specifically, we have carried out two-dimensional surface brightness decompositions of the host galaxies of nine new AGNs imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. The surface brightness decompositions allow us to create “AGN-free” images of the galaxies, from which we measure the starlight contribution to the optical luminosity measured through the ground-based spectroscopic aperture. We also incorporate 20 new reverberation-mapping measurements of the Hβ time lag, which is assumed to yield …

Considering Water Availability And Wastewater Resources In The Development Of Algal Bio-Oil, Yi-Wen Chiu, May Wu

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

This study aims to quantify water appropriation and the potential production of algal bio-oil using freshwater and municipal wastewater effluent (MWW) as an alternative water resource. The county-level analysis focuses on open-pond algae cultivation systems located in 17 states in the southern United States. Several scenarios were developed to examine the water availability for algae bio-oil production under various water resource mixing MWW and freshwater. The results of the analysis indicate that water availability can significantly affect the selection of an algal refinery site and therefore the potential production of algal bio-oil. The production of one liter of algal bio-oil …

Computational Problems In Introductory Physics: Lessons From A Bead On A Wire, Thomas J. Bensky, Matthew J. Moelter

Physics

We have found that incorporating computer programming into introductory physics requires problems suited for numerical treatment while still maintaining ties with the analytical themes in a typical introductory-level university physics course. In this paper, we discuss a numerical adaptation of a system commonly encountered in the introductory physics curriculum: the dynamics of an object constrained to move along a curved path. A numerical analysis of this problem that includes a computer animation can provide many insights and pedagogical avenues not possible with the usual analytical treatment. We present two approaches for computing the instantaneous kinematic variables of an object constrained …

Recognizing And Modeling Variable Drawdown Due To Evapotranspiration In A Semiarid Riparian Zone Considering Local Differences In Vegetation And Distance From A River Source, Brady Johnson, Bwalya Malama, Warren Barrash, Alejandro N. Flores

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Riparian zones in semiarid regions often exhibit high rates of evapotranspiration (ET) in spite of low-soil moisture content due to the presence of phreatophytic vegetation that is able to withdraw water from shallow aquifers. This work seeks to better define the relationship between ET, the saturated zone and the river boundary by comparing observed water table drawdown records to analytically modeled drawdown in fully penetrating wells of an unconfined aquifer in response to daily ET flux. ET at the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site (BHRS), a riparian zone in a temperate, semiarid environment, is calculated using a radiation-based method to provide …

Sensor Calibration Systems And Methods For Infrared Cameras, George Speake, Nuwan Nagahawatte, Richard M. Goeden, Ted Takagi, Robert Ernst, Gary B. Hughes, Joseph Kostrzewa, John Graff, Russell Granneman, Michael Kent, Neela Nalam, Stephen Lyon, Barbara Sharp, Pierre Boulanger, Neil Cuteliffe, Tim Martin, Ted Hoelter

Statistics

Systems and methods directed to calibration techniques for infrared cameras are disclosed for some embodiments. For example, a method of determining infrared sensor calibration information, in accordance with an embodiment, includes performing a calibration operation on an infrared sensor to obtain calibration information, wherein the infrared sensor is not within an infrared camera core, and storing the calibration information.

The Transient Optical Sky Survey Data Pipeline, Elena Hadjiyska, Gary B. Hughes, Philip Lubin, Scott Taylor, Rory Hartong-Redden, Joshua Zierten

Statistics

The Transient Optical Sky Survey (TOSS) is an automated, ground-based telescope system dedicated to searching for optical transient events. Small telescope tubes are mounted on a tracking, semi-equatorial frame with a single polar axis. Each fixed-declination telescope records successive exposures which overlap in right ascension. Nightly observations produce time-series images of fixed fields within each declination band. We describe the TOSS data pipeline, including automated routines used for image calibration, object detection and identification, astrometry, and differential photometry. Time series of nightly observations are accumulated in a database for each declination band. Despite the modest cost of the mechanical system, …

Variability In Effect Of Climate Change On Rain-On-Snow Peak Flow Events In A Temperate Climate, Christopher G. Surfleet, Desirèe Tullos

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

The frequency of rain-on-snow (ROS) hydrologic events, which produce high runoff volumes and lead to large-scale flooding and avalanching, are likely to change in the future as the types and timing of precipitation change. The relationship between ROS precipitation events and peak daily flow events P1-year return were examined for historical and future runoff affected by climate change within the Santiam River Basin, Oregon. Historical streamflow records and modeled historical and future streamflow projections were analyzed for three sites across three elevation zones defined by the dominant precipitation types; rain, rain and snow transition, and snow. The results illustrate that, …

The Low Energy Spectrum Of Teo2 Bolometers: Results And Dark Matter Perspectives For The Cuore-0 And Cuore Experiments, F. Alessandria, R. Ardito, D.R. Artusa, F.T. Avignone Iii, O. Azzolini, M. Balata, T.I. Banks, G. Bari, J. Beeman, F. Bellini, A. Bersani, M. Biassoni, T. Bloxham, C. Brofferio, C. Bucci, X.Z. Cai, L. Canonica, S. Capelli, L. Carbone, L. Cardani, M. Carrettoni, N. Casali, N. Chott, M. Clemenza, C. Cosmelli, O. Cremonesi, R.J. Creswick, I. Dafinei, A. Dally, V. Datskov, A. De Biasi, M.P. Decowski, M.M. Deninno, S. Di Domizio, M.L. Di Vacri, L. Ejzak, R. Faccini, D.Q. Fang, H.A. Farach, E. Ferri, F. Ferroni, E. Fiorini, M.A. Franceschi, S.J. Freedman, B.K. Fujikawa, A. Giachero, L. Gironi, A. Guiliani, J. Goett, P. Gorla, C. Gotti, E. Guardincerri, T.D. Gutierrez, E.E. Haller, K. Han, K.M. Heeger, H.Z. Huang, R. Kadel, K. Kazkaz, G. Keppel, L. Kogler, Yu. G. Kolomensky, D. Lenz, Y.L. Li, C. Ligi, X. Liu, Y.G. Ma, C. Maino, M. Maino, M. Martinez, R.H. Maruyama, N. Moggi, S. Morganti, T. Napolitano, S. Newman, S. Nisi, C. Nones, E.B. Norman, A. Nucciotti, F. Orio, D. Orlandi, J.L. Ouellet, M. Pallavicini, V. Palmieri, L. Pattavina, M. Pavan, M. Pedretti, G. Pessina, S. Pirro, E. Previtali, V. Rampazzo, F. Rimondi, C. Rosenfeld, C. Rusconi, S. Sangiorgio, N.D. Scielzo, M. Sisti, A.R. Smith, F. Stivanello, L. Taffarello, M. Tenconi, W.D. Tian, C. Tomei, S. Trentalange, G. Ventura, M. Vignati, B.S. Wang, H.W. Wang, C.A. Whitten Jr., T. Wise, A. Woodcraft, L. Zanotti, C. Zarra, B.X. Zhu, S. Zucchelli

Physics

We collected 19.4 days of data from four 750 g TeO2 bolometers, and in three of them we were able to set the energy threshold around 3 keV using a new analysis technique. We found a background rate ranging from 25 cpd/keV/kg at 3 keV to 2 cpd/keV/kg at 25 keV, and a peak at 4.7 keV. The origin of this peak is presently unknown, but its presence is confirmed by a reanalysis of 62.7 kg·days of data from the finished CUORICINO experiment. Finally, we report the expected sensitivities of the CUORE-0 (52 bolometers) and CUORE (988 bolometers) experiments to …

The Properties Of Post-Starburst Quasars Based On Optical Spectroscopy, Sabrina L. Cales, Michael S. Brotherton, Zhaohui Shang, Jessie C. Runnoe, Michael A. Dipompeo, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Gabriela Canalizo, Kyle D. Hiner, R. Stoll, Rajib Ganguly, Aleksandar Diamond-Stanic

Physics

We present optical spectroscopy of a sample of 38 post-starburst quasars (PSQs) at z ~ 0.3, 29 of which have morphological classifications based on Hubble Space Telescope imaging. These broad-lined active galactic nuclei (AGNs) possess the spectral signatures of massive intermediate-aged stellar populations, making them potentially useful for studying connections between nuclear activity and host galaxy evolution. We model the spectra in order to determine the ages and masses of the host stellar populations, and the black hole masses and Eddington fractions of the AGNs. Our model components include an instantaneous starburst, a power law, and emission lines. We find …

Paper And Toner Three-Dimensional Fluidic Devices: Programming Fluid Flow To Improve Point-Of-Care Diagnostics, Kevin M. Schilling, Daisy Jauregui, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

We present a new method for fabricating three-dimensional paper-based fluidic devices that uses toner as a thermal adhesive to bond multiple layers of patterned paper together. The fabrication process is rapid, involves minimal equipment (a laser printer and a laminator) and produces complex channel networks with dimensions down to 1 mm. The devices can run multiple diagnostic assays on one or more samples simultaneously, can incorporate positive and negative controls and can be programmed to display the results of the assays in a variety of patterns. The patterns of the results can encode information, which could be used to identify …

Optimizing Electrode Design For Microbial Fuel Cells Used For Wastewater Treatment, Lindsay Nichols, John A. Hogan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) utilize bacteria to generate an electrical current that can be used in the decomposition of sludge and human urine. In a MFC there is an anode (for oxidation of organic compounds), cathode (reduction of oxygen or carbon dioxide), and a proton exchange membrane (PEM, allows protons to migrate); reduction-oxidation reactions between the anode and cathode produce a measurable current. Bacteria that are found in sludge can be used to produce electrons in a voltaic cell, but optimizing conditions for harnessing the energy is crucial to making a MFC efficient. Research has shown that the ratios of …

Abundance Patterns In The Spiral Galaxy Messier 33, Melissa A. Siemer, Ravi Sankrit

STAR Program Research Presentations

Messier 33 (M33) is a spiral disk galaxy, similar to our galaxy, approximately 3 million light-years from Earth. Because of its proximity to Earth and face-on viewing angle, it is easy to see individual objects. Consequently, M33 is in an ideal position for obtaining data on elemental abundances. By studying M33, we learn how galaxies like our own form and change over time.

We use published optical spectroscopic data, obtained and assembled from online sources, to map the abundances of various elements (Helium, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Neon, Argon, Sulfur) in the planetary nebula and HII region populations of M33. We classify …