Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Optical Luminosity Function Of Gamma-Ray Bursts Deduced From Rotse-Iii Observations, X. H. Cui, X. F. Wu, J. J. Wei, F. Yuan, W. K. Zheng, E. W. Liang, C. W. Akerlof, M. C. B. Ashley, H A. Flewelling, E. Göǧüş, T. Güver, Ü. Kızıloǧlu, T. A. Mckay, S. B. Pandey, E. S. Rykoff, W. Rujopakarn, B. E. Schaefer, J. C. Wheeler, Sarah A. Yost

Physics Faculty Publications

We present the optical luminosity function (LF) of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) estimated from a uniform sample of 58 GRBs from observations with the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment III (ROTSE-III). Our GRB sample is divided into two sub-samples: detected afterglows (18 GRBs) and those with upper limits (40 GRBs). We derive R-band fluxes for these two sub-samples 100 s after the onset of the burst. The optical LFs at 100 s are fitted by assuming that the co-moving GRB rate traces the star formation rate. While fitting the optical LFs using Monte Carlo simulations, we take into account the …

Magnetometer Surveys: Attempts And Issues In Locating A 1948 Private Water Well On The Shore Of Lac Sault Dore, Price County, Wisconsin, Kenneth R. Neuhauser, Kristopher J. Neuhauser

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Two different magnetometer surveys in northern Wisconsin during the summers of 1997 and 2010, using two different Geometrics magnetometers, a proton precession G-816 unit and a cesium vapor G-858 unit, in an attempt to locate a surface-target position of, and depth to, an abandoned 1948 private water well, successfully targeted the suspect surface position and the depth to the well head spike. Both surveys detected 400-gamma anomalies and estimated the depth to the spike at 2 meters. A land owner, private family photograph taken in 1951, was used to compare the anomaly’s position to the actual surface position of the …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon 2014 Service Awards And Projects, Paula Even

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

In 2012, the Sigma Gamma Epsilon Chapter Service Award was established. The Chapter Service Award is based upon a non-profit/non-chapter fund raising activity that benefits the department, institution, or community. Four chapters received the award in 2014. Information about their projects as well as other chapters’ service projects is listed as well as the criteria for this award.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon 2014 Quality Awards, Paula Even

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Quality Chapter Award for Sigma Gamma Epsilon was established in 2010 to recognize chapters for achieving excellence by providing a quality program to its members. The 2014 recipients are announced and the qualifying criteria for the award are listed.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Undergraduate Research, Larry E. Davis

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Fifty-two abstracts of student-authored research have been accepted for presentation in the Sigma Gamma Epsilon Undergraduate Research poster session at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The poster session will be held on Tuesday, 21 October 2014, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, in the Vancouver Convention Centre-West Exhibition Hall C. Authors will be present from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, and 5:00 to 6:30 PM.

Evidence Of Large Scale Tectonic Processes On The Tharsis Rise, Mars, Genevieve Kidman, John S. Maclean, David Maxwell

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Past observations of Mars have led scientists to believe that tectonic kinematics stopped early in its planetary development. Recent exploration of Mars has led to new theories that support an active tectonic regime on the Tharsis rise. With the advancement of new satellite imagery and technologies such as Thermal Emission Imaging System, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment satellite imagery, the Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter, and interactive software such as J-Mars and Esri GIS, we have identified additional large-scale surface features in the Tharsis Rise and surrounding areas. Large-scale Martian lineations, folds, and conjugate joints can be compared to similar structures …

Five Tectonic Settings In Five National Parks And Forests: A Field Camp Experience, Spencer Francisco, John S. Maclean

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

In summer 2014, Southern Utah University’s field camp visited five national parks and forests to study five different tectonic settings in five weeks. These included: thick-skinned contraction of the Laramide Orogeny at Capitol Reef National Park; normal faulting due to salt tectonics of the Paradox Formation at Arches National Park; thin-skinned folding and thrusting of the Sevier Orogeny at Fish Lake National Forest and Kolob Canyon of Zion National Park; foreland sedimentary transitions in the Book’s Cliffs areas of Utah; thrusting and conjugate fracture development due to the gravitational collapse of the Marysvale volcanic field at Bryce Canyon National Park; …

Letter From Sge National Secretary, James Walters

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Letter From Sge President, Erika Elswick

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Air Mass Frequency During Precipitation Events In The Northern Plains Of The United States, Anthony Baum, Richard De Pasquale, Melissa L. Godek

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Since 1980, numerous billion-dollar disasters have affected the Northern Plains of the United States, including nine droughts and four floods. The atmospheric environment present during precipitation events can largely be described by the presiding air mass conditions since air masses characterize a multitude of meteorological variables at one time over a large region. The goal of this research is to add knowledge to current understandings of the factors responsible for precipitation in the Northern Plains through an assessment of synoptic air mass conditions. The Spatial Synoptic Classification is used to categorize 30 years of daily surface air mass types across …

Evaluation Of Microarray-Based Dna Methylation Measurement Using Technical Replicates: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Maitreyee Bose, Chong Wu, James S. Pankow, Ellen W. Demerath, Jan Bressler, Myriam Fornage, Megan L. Grove, Thomas H. Mosley, Chindo Hicks, Kari North, Wen Hong Kao, Yu Zhang, Eric Boerwinkle, Weihua Guan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Background: DNA methylation is a widely studied epigenetic phenomenon; alterations in methylation patterns influence human phenotypes and risk of disease. As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 (HM450) BeadChip was used to measure DNA methylation in peripheral blood obtained from ~3000 African American study participants. Over 480,000 cytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotide sites were surveyed on the HM450 BeadChip. To evaluate the impact of technical variation, 265 technical replicates from 130 participants were included in the study.

Results: For each CpG site, we calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to compare variation of methylation levels …

A Women In Mathematics, Computer Science, And Physics Course, Jim Crumley, Kristen Nairn, Lynn Ziegler, Pamela L. Bacon, Yu Zhang

MapCores Faculty Publications

Increasing women's participation is a concern in disciplines beyond
physics. As part of our Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science
Research Scholars (MapCores) program, we teach a women in science
class covering these three areas. Our course is a special version of
our college's first year seminar, which is a course designed to
prepare our students to read, write, and speak at a college-level. We
structure our FYS to promote academic confidence and interest in our
disciplines for the women in MapCores. It covers not only contributions
that women have made and barriers that women face in these
disciplines, but also research …

The Magnetopause: Bringing Space Physics Into A Junior Lab, Jim Crumley, Ari Palczewski,, Stephen Kaster

MapCores Faculty Publications

Undergraduate students often have minimal exposure to many subfields
of physics which are active areas of research. Space physics
is an area that is particularly difficult to expose students to since
it builds off of another area that most undergraduates see little of,
plasma physics. The magnetopause is convenient entry point
into space physics, since it can be modeled as a pressure balance, which is
a concept familiar from introductory physics. We use the Earth's
magnetopause as the basis for a lab for junior physics majors. In
the lab students analyze results from a NASA MHD simulation and
data from …

Effect Of Australian Pine (Casuarina Equisetifolia) Canopy Density On The Understory Plant Community On San Salvador, Bahamas, Jeffry Anderson, Anna Baumgartner

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Casuarina equisetifolia, or Australian pine, is an invasive angiosperm species on the island of San Salvador, The Bahamas. It was originally found only in Southeast Asia and Australia. This tree is unique in that its leaves are much reduced and occur in whorls around the photosynthetic branchlets. It has been established that this tree contributes to the increased erosion of sediment on the dunes of San Salvador (Sealey 1998). This study investigated several possible factors contributing to differences in the understory plant community which may contribute to this erosion including leaf litter density, shading, and soil pH. It is …

Elce - Sustainable Serving, Kevin Curwick, Allison Fischbach

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Describes the Sustainability Student Worker Network (SSWN) and the connections between ELCE (Experiential Learning & Community Engagement) and sustainability at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

Effect Of Sulfuric Acid Exposure On Common Mineral Dust Particles, Miguel D. Mendoza

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Mineral dust has a large effect on cloud formation and ultimately the climate. Several studies have shown the addition of acid to these mineral dust particles decreases their ability to nucleate ice. This study explores what chemistry occurs between common components of mineral dust particles and sulfuric acid. Hematite (Fe₂O₃), calcite (CaCO₃), and quartz (SiO₂) were exposed to sulfuric acid, and then analyzed using a combination of Attenuated Total Reflectance-FTIR, Diffuse Reflectance-FTIR Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy to identify functional groups, mineral species, and aqueous phase elements. …

Classification Of Biorenewable Multiblock Copolymers, Sean Pickthorn

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Recent advances in polymer production sciences have led to an increase in research in sustainable practices. Our efforts intended to produce a toughened biorenewable multiblock copolymer. Polylactide has been noted to be produced by sustainable practices but is limited because of the fragile structure. To improve the brittle behavior of polylactide, preparation of polylactide-b-polybutadiene-b-polylactide multiblock copolymers were synthesized with a fixed weight of dihydroxyl polybutadiene (~3000 and ~2000g/mole series) and variable volume percent (50-90%) of both semicrystalline poly(L-lactide) and amorphous poly(D,L-lactide). Producing a multiblock copolymer intended to strengthen the mechanical properties by bridging and gapping over several domains. Initially, triblock …

Vegetation And Climate History Of The St. John’S Abbey Arboretum (Collegeville, Minnesota) Based Upon Lacustrine Fossil Pollen, Emily Kiolbasa

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

No abstract provided.

Tiny Homes: Improving Carbon Footprint And The American Lifestyle On A Large Scale, Timothy Michael Carlin

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Since the year 1950, the size of the average American house has increased by two and one half times, from 1,000 Square Feet to 2,400 Square Feet. The drastic growth in housing size has led to increased spending and usage of utilities (natural gas, electricity, etc.), resulting in surges in the American carbon footprint. This research explores the potential for tiny homes to serve as a solution to the elusive idea of sustainable housing that is available to the average American homeowner, aiding in the size reduction of the American carbon footprint. Utilizing existing literature on the topic of tiny …

Ring-Opening Polymerization Of Lactones And Lactides: An Organic Chemistry Lab Synthesis, Erin Wissler

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

This project analyzed the ring opening chemistry of D, L- lactide, γ – butyrolactone, valerolactone, dodecalactone and caprolactone. Starting with each of the above monomers, Sn(Oct)2,SnCl2, Zn(acac)2, ZnCL2, and AlCl3 were used as catalysts in the polymerization process. Initiators included benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol and 1-butanol. The results of each reaction were analyzed by 1H-NMR and IR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results were collated to determine the most promising candidates for a student project in the teaching laboratory.

Mapcores 2013-2014 Assessment Report, Kristen Nairn, Pamela L. Bacon, Jim Crumley, Yu Zhang

MapCores Faculty Publications

This is a report showing the assessment results for the MapCores (MAthematics, Physics, COmputer science REsearch Scholars) program at the College of Saint Benedict. Started in 2009, MapCores is a cohort-based program designed to increase women's interest and achievement in mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering. The report was submitted for the National Science Foundation grant number 0965705.

Base Metals Prospecting In Kagera Region, Tanzania Using Remote Sensing And Biogeochemistry Analytics, Thomas A. Woolman

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

This paper explores the use of biogeochemistry as a means for conducting geological prospecting in search of economic grade anomalies of precious metals, base metals and rare earth elements. The use of randomized soil sampling for geostatistical coefficient calculations and aeromagnetic remote sensing systems in conjunction with biogeochemical prospecting for ferromagnetic elements is examined. The paper concludes that the evidence presented indicates that bioprospecting can be an extremely powerful economic geology tool for conducting rapid and cost effective micro-targeting mineral discovery.

An Applied Geophysical Detection And Subsequent Mitigation Of An Abandoned Well Casing Penetrating The Permian Hutchinson Salt At An Undisclosed Kansas Salt Mine, Kenneth R. Neuhauser, Daniel J. Redetzke

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

A surface field survey, using a cesium magnetometer, successfully targeted the spatial location of an abandoned buried well casing. Surface excavation exposed the top of the well casing, but attempts to drill out the casing from the surface failed due to the difficulty of keeping the drill bit on-line with the casing. The casing was successfully sealed off by grouting through the ceiling and floor from within the mine.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Meeting 2013, Denver, Colorado, Paula Even

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The 2013 Sigma Gamma Epsilon Undergraduate Research (Poster Session) took place during the 2013 GSA Conference in Denver, CO. on Tuesday, 29 October 2013: 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Authors were present from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.). Ninety-eight posters were presented. Sigma Gamma Epsilon awarded the Austin A. Sartin Best Poster Award to Brittney Klemm, a member of Eta Upsilon Chapter at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Sebastian Dirringer, a member of Theta Beta Chapter at the State University of New York in New Paltz, NY, was awarded the National Council Best …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon 2012-2013 W. A. Tarr Awards, Paula Even

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The W. A. Tarr Award was first established in March 1949, to recognize outstanding students in the Earth Sciences. Qualifying criteria for the award are provided as well as a list of individuals who received this award for the 2012-2013 academic year.

The Nature And Nurture Of Intuition, Thomas Q. Sibley

Forum Lectures

Are people just innately good at mathematics or not? My teaching experience suggests mathematical ability is not just fate: Students develop their mathematical abilities by doing mathematics. In particular we discuss geometric intuition, its connection with geometric reasoning and the possibility of developing them, using examples to get the listeners actively thinking about their own geometric thinking.

Effects Of Oxidation On Protein-Nanoparticle Interactions, Valdez R. Rahming, Md. Abul Fazal

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Aims: Upon entrance into the blood stream most nanoparticles bind to an array of proteins forming a “protein corona”. Fibrinogen is the second most abundant blood protein and has been reported to bind to a variety of nanoparticles including metal oxides, polymeric nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes.
Study Design: Study the effects of oxidation on the binding interactions between human serum fibrinogen and magnetic iron (III) oxide nanoparticles.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, College of St. Benedict, 37 South College Avenue, St. Joseph, MN 56374, U.S.A., between June 2011 and May 2012.
Methodology: Spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, IR, fluorescence, …

Modeling Tolerance In Dynamic Social Networks, Amanda Luby

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

The study of social networks has become increasingly important in recent years. Multi-agent systems research has proven to be an effective way of representing both static and dynamic social networks in order to model and analyze many different situations. Previous implementations of multi-agent systems have observed a phenomenon called tolerance between agents through simulation studies, which is defined as an agent maintaining an unrewarding connection. This concept has also arisen in the social sciences through the study of networks. We aim to bridge this gap between simulation studies in multi-agent systems and real-world observations. This project explores how local interactions …

Measuring Ultrashort Laser Pulses Using Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating In Conjunction With Genetic And Iterative Algorithms, Alexandra M. Brancale

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Precise ultrashort light pulse measurements are critical in many physics experiments using ultrafast lasers. A Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating (FROG) system can efficiently and accurately record these desired measurements. FROGs split the input laser beam, delay half of the beam, and overlap both halves in a nonlinear medium. The resulting beam allows the retrieval of phase and duration information. A data file is created by the FROG software that includes beam intensity measurements. By using genetic and iterative algorithms, the intensity data can be manipulated in order to retrieve the pulse duration and phase information. One focus of this research was …

Computing Local Constants For Cm Elliptic Curves, Sunil Chetty, Lung Li

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Let E/k be an elliptic curve with CM by O. We determine a formula for (a generalization of) the arithmetic local constant of Mazur-Rubin at almost all primes of good reduction. We apply this formula to the CM curves defined over Q and are able to describe extensions F/Q over which the O-rank of E grows.