Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Paper-Based Standard Addition Assays, Cory A. Chaplan, Haydn T. Mitchell, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Standard addition assays conducted on paper-based microfluidic devices are introduced as an alternative to external standards for calibrating quantitative tests. To demonstrate this technique, a colorimetric, paper-based, standard addition assay was optimized for the determination of glucose concentrations in the range of 0 to 5 mM. Comparable results were obtained from the assay via digital image colorimetry under three different lighting conditions.

Mechanical And Microscopic Properties Of The Reversible Plastic Regime In A 2d Jammed Material, Nathan C. Keim, Paulo E. Arratia

Physics

At the microscopic level, plastic flow of a jammed, disordered material consists of a series of particle rearrangements that cannot be reversed by subsequent deformation. An infinitesimal deformation of the same material has no rearrangements. Yet between these limits, there may be a self-organized plastic regime with rearrangements, but with no net change upon reversing a deformation. We measure the oscillatory response of a jammed interfacial material, and directly observe rearrangements that couple to bulk stress and dissipate energy, but do not always give rise to global irreversibility.

Calculating Ellipse Overlap Areas, Gary B. Hughes, Mohcine Chraibi

Statistics

We present an approach for finding the overlap area between two ellipses that does not rely on proxy curves. The Gauss-Green formula is used to determine a segment area between two points on an ellipse. Overlap between two ellipses is calculated by combining the areas of appropriate segments and polygons in each ellipse. For four of the ten possible orientations of two ellipses, the method requires numerical determination of transverse intersection points. Approximate intersection points can be determined by solving the two implicit ellipse equations simultaneously. Alternative approaches for finding transverse intersection points are available using tools from algebraic geometry, …

Characterization Of Polarized Synchrotron Light, Britny N. Delp, Jeff Corbett

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light accelerates electrons around a 234-meter circumference ring at relativistic speeds. The x-ray radiation produced by this process is used in many fields of science ranging from materials science to medicine.

This project seeks to measure the polarization of the 532 nanometer wavelength component in the visible light beam emitted from the SPEAR-3 synchrotron as a function of vertical position. The beam was focused through a lens, then passed through a 532 nm band pass filter and a polarizer mounted on a rotating stand. The beam power was measured as a function of vertical position and …

Reading In Binary Data And Creating An R User Interface, Malika J. Onstad, Brett Amidan, Kimberly Freeman

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) employs Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to measure variables such as Voltage, Frequency, and Phasor Angles every sixtieth of a second. These measurements result in terabytes of data which are analyzed to detect abnormalities in the power grid. Recently BPA has switched the data file format from DST to PDAT. A function does not currently exist to read in PDAT files in order to prepare the data for analysis. In order to do this the raw PMU data must be sorted and extracted to ensure its accuracy prior to analysis. This research worked to produce a …

Updating And Revising Star Camera For Future Flights Of Balloon Borne Experiment, Krystle N. Sy, Seth Hillbrand

STAR Program Research Presentations

The BLAST (Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope) experiment surveys the galaxy from altitudes of 100,000 ft in order to answer important cosmological questions, such as how stars are formed. This experiment is conducted above Antarctica to minimize unwanted noise. Two star cameras are used in the navigation systems to identify known stars. The cameras take pictures and match stars in the image to known star positions from a catalog stored in the star camera's computer. This is done using code written in C++, a computer programming language. In order to modernize the system, the code needs to be updated. A …

Kenyan Climate Variation Assessment Through Rainfall Anomalies And Sea Surface Temperature (Sst) Correlations, Kimberly E. Lykens

STAR Program Research Presentations

The diverse and varied climate of Eastern Africa’s Kenya is home to an agriculturally dependent populace, in which farmers and other related economic sectors make up the majority of livelihoods and gross domestic product. Recurring droughts and severe flooding are major concerns for local farmers and governmental entities. The purpose of this study is to identify and categorize differences in rainfall trends over Kenya and to examine relationships between seasonal rainfall anomalies of sea surface temperature (SST), with an ultimate goal to improve predictions of wet season rainfall amounts. The analysis began with data from 27 national and cooperative weather …

Probing The Alfvén Speed Profile Using Type Ii Radio Bursts, Peter Sullivan, Hazel M. Bain

STAR Program Research Presentations

Type II radio bursts can be produced when a coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling faster than the local plasma speed of the ambient medium produces a shock. From the drift rate of type II bursts it is possible to calculate the velocity of the CME. We present a statistical survey of type II radio burst events during 2012-2013. Using radio observations we determine speeds of CME shocks as a means of setting limits on the Alfvén speed profile of the interplanetary medium as a function of distance from the sun. In particular we use observations from the WAVES instruments onboard …

Reduction Of Uranium By Bacterial Products, Adesanya A. Akinleye, Sharon Bone, John Bargar

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Old Rifle Mill Processing site at Rifle, CO, contains uranium contaminated groundwater. The presence of uranium is one of the major problems at Department of Energy legacy sites. There is an initiative for attenuation of uranium by the Department of Energy. Uranium undergoes oxidation/reduction reactions with the substances at the site. Uranium’s oxidation state determines its solubility and mobility in the aquifer. The oxidation reduction pathways at this site have mineralogical, microbial and geochemical components. Understanding the oxidation/reduction pathways of these components will allow for better predictions of the changes and movement of uranium.

Sulfide [S^2- ] and …

Chapter 1 Engineering Justice, Joe Grimes, Mark Grimes

Computer Science and Software Engineering

No abstract provided.

Chapter 20 The Hybrid Course: Facilitating Learning Through Social Interaction Technologies, Lorraine D. Jackson, Joe Grimes

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This chapter surveys the benefits and challenges of hybrid courses, which blend face-to-face instruction with online learning, and opportunities provided by the introduction of Web-based social interaction technologies. It discusses the pedagogical implications of various Web 2.0 tools: that is, asynchronous discussion boards, blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS, e-portfolios, folksonomies, educational gaming, data mashups, and simulations. The authors argue that as hybrid courses continue to evolve to meet the needs of students, instructors, and institutions of higher learning, the integration of Web 2.0 applications in a hybrid model requires thoughtful course design, clear educational objectives, and carefully planned activities.

Chapter 13 Access Within The Classroom Through Universal Design For Learning And Key Learning Elements, Joe Grimes, Mark Grimes

Computer Science and Software Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Introduction To The Inverse Quantum Bound-State Problem In One Dimension, Thomas D. Gutierrez

Physics

A technique to reconstruct one-dimensional, reflectionless potentials and the associated quantum wave functions starting from a finite number of known energy spectra is discussed. The method is demonstrated using spectra that scale like the lowest energy states of standard problems encountered in the undergraduate curriculum, such as the infinite square well and the simple harmonic oscillator.

Water Capacity Of Tuffoam, Kristina Fuller

STAR Program Research Presentations

TufFoam is a Sandia-developed, closed cell polyurethane foam designed for insulation and impact force dispersion. Unlike similar commercially available foams, TufFoam does not require the carcinogenic compound toluene diisocyanate in the production process. Since properties of foams can change with moisture content, this study examines the capacity of TufFoam to absorb water. Samples of TufFoam were created in two different thicknesses, at three different densities, and with two different exteriors and were weighed to the microgram. Weights were tracked from ambient conditions until the disks had finished drying in ovens and then while being moistened in airtight canisters held at …

Evolution Of Perturbations In Flow Field Mechanics, Samantha R. Bell, David Forliti, Nils Sedano, Kriss Vanderhyde

STAR Program Research Presentations

This project explores the stability analysis of a given flow field. Specifically, where the peak disturbance occurs in a flow as this is the disturbance that is most likely to occur. In rocket combustion, it is important to understand where the maximum disturbance occurs so that the mixing of fuel can be stabilized. The instabilities are the results of frequencies in the area surrounding the flow field. The linear stability governing equations are employed to better understand the disturbance. The governing equations for continuity and momentum in the x and y directions are used to form an equation for the …

Radiographic Image Quality Enhancement By The Use Of Copper Filters, Timothy T. Sakogawa, Bernice Mills

STAR Program Research Presentations

In x-radiography, filters are often used in order to improve the overall image quality. Filters achieve this by making the x-ray beam have less energy spread, resulting in a cleaner image. Step wedges of different materials were used to compare radiographic density with and without a copper filter to identify the effect of the copper filter at different energies and exposure times. The step wedges used were CRS 1018 (cold rolled steel), Stainless Steel 304L, Al 1100, Al 6061 T6, titanium, copper, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon), brass, carbon, magnesium, phenolic, tungsten, and tantalum. Out of the 14 step wedges tested, …