Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Paths In Graphs, Béla Bollobás, Amites Sarkar

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We prove that if 10 ≦ (^k₂) ≦ m < (^k+1₂) then the number of paths of length three in a graph G of size m is at most 2m(m – k)(k - 2)/k. Equality is attained if G is the union of K_k and isolated vertices. We also give asymptotically best possible bounds for the maximal number of paths of length s, for arbitrary s, in graphs of size m. Lastly, we discuss the more general problem of maximizing the number of subgraphs …

Huxley Hotline, 2000, November 17, Kate Koch, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

Historical Collection of Huxley Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Huxley Hotline, 2000, November 8, Kate Koch, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

Historical Collection of Huxley Newsletters

No abstract provided.

The Planet, 2000, Fall, Tiffany Campbell, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

King County Environmental Laboratory Internship Report, Kristen Weatherford

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The goal of the Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, otherwise known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the United States. The CWA includes national policies to prohibit discharge of toxic pollutants, and to fund publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities (Cornell 2000).

The CWA prohibits discharge of pollutants by any person through a point source into U.S. waters unless that person has a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. NPDES permits include limits on what can be discharged, and monitoring and reporting requirements. The …

On Singular Critical Points Of Positive Operators In Krein Spaces, Branko Ćurgus, Aurelian Gheondea, H. Langer

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We give an example of a positive operator B in a Krein space with the following properties: the nonzero spectrum of B consists of isolated simple eigenvalues, the norms of the orthogonal spectral projections in the Krein space onto the eigenspaces of B are uniformly bounded and the point ∞ is a singular critical point of B.

Solar Damage To The Solitary Ascidian, Corella Inflata, Brian L. Bingham, Adam M. Reitzel

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The ascidian Corella inflata (Chordata, Ascidiacea) is common in many areas of Puget Sound, Washington, USA. However, it occurs only in habitats where it is protected from direct sunlight. Previous experiments with artificial lights showed that UV irradiation kills all life stages of this animal. The effects of natural sunlight exposure (measuring survival of adults, juveniles, larvae, and embryos) were compared. We partitioned the light spectrum to separate the effects of UVB, UVA, and visible light (PAR). Natural sunlight severely damaged C. inflata. Adults and juveniles died after 2-5 d. Exposed embryos failed to develop normally and larvae did …

The Size Distribution Of Dust Toward Hd 210121 As Determined From Extinction, Kristen A. Larson, M. J. Wolff, W. G. Roberge, D. C. B. Whittet, L. He

Physics & Astronomy

Several observations suggest that the molecular cloud toward HD 210121 contains an enhanced relative abundance of small dust grains. In particular, the value of the ratio of total-to-selective extinction (R_v) is unusually low. In this paper, we estimate the size distribution of dust grains in this line of sight from the extinction curve observed in the near-infrared through the ultraviolet. We use the maximum entropy method (MEM) to find the smoothest possible size distribution consistent within a χ² confidence level fit to the extinction data. While MEM has been shown to be a powerful tool in …

The Planet, 2000, Spring/Summer, Shane Powell, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Carbon Sequestration Projects: A Short-Term Mitigation To Global Climate Change, Maria Mcgarry

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The changing demands of consumers on timber markets, products, and amenities is creating unprecedented research in the valuation of non-timber products from forest owners. Both public and private owners of forest lands are beginning to explore the expanding markets into which the products of forests can be marketed. This has occurred before as businesses in the forest products market have searched for ways to bring returns to stockholders in a market known for its volatility, unpredictability, and constant changes over the last century. Now the opportunity to sell the goods and services delivered by standing forests has expanded as society …

Satellite Rna Of Tobacco Ringspot Virus, Jennifer J. (Jennifer Jeane) Gilberd

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The satellite RNA found with tobacco ringspot virus is capable of attenuating the symptoms of viral infection. Although the satellite appears within viral capsids after several passages of infected plants, the origin of this satellite RNA sequence has not been previously determined. Earlier work indicated a potential mitochondrial origin of this sequence. Using satellite specific primers and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the mitochondrial DNA of uninfected tobacco cells was probed for sequence corresponding to the satellite RNA. A new protocol was adapted for the isolation of mitochondrial DNA in which specific isolation of protoplasts and mitochondria was not required. …

Water, Culture And Sewage: Sources And Solutions Of River Pollution In Oaxaca De Juarez, Mexico, Kirsten Harma

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The following paper is the result of research I completed while living and studying in Oaxaca, Mexico on a foreign study program during Fall Semester, 1999. My project reflects an overall look at environment and development issues in Oaxaca state, as well as a detailed case study of a river in Oaxaca’s capital.

The foreign study program, titled “Semester in Oaxaca,” is run through Portland State University and focuses on Mexican history, archeology and environment and development issues. As part of the program we had three months of formal classes in which we studied these subjects in a broad look …

Formation Of Uniaxial Molecular Films By Liquid-Crystal Imprinting In A Magnetic Field, Joseph D. Mougous, Andrew J. Brackley, Katherine Foland, Robert T. Baker, David L. Patrick

Chemistry Faculty and Staff Publications

Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study molecular order in monolayer organic films formed by solution-phase growth from thermotropic liquid crystal solvents. The films develop macroscopically uniaxial alignment, with adlayer orientation controlled by an external magnetic field through interactions mediated by the liquid crystal. Results are presented for two films deposited from nematic and smectic- A solvents, along with a discussion of the alignment mechanism.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1998/1999 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Origin Of Intraplate Volcanoes From Guyot Heights And Oceanic Paleodepth, Jacqueline Caplan-Auerbach, Fred Duennebier, Garrett Ito

Geology Faculty Publications

The height of a guyot as measured from the surrounding regional sea floor to the volcano's slope break records the water depth at the time the guyot submerged. Thus guyot heights may be used as indicators of the paleodepth of the surrounding ocean floor. We compile data on the heights of 68 intraplate guyots and atolls in the Pacific Ocean as well as 46 volcanic islands in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. We find that guyot heights generally increase with the age of the lithosphere upon which they were emplaced, although there is a large amount of scatter. In …

An Electromagnetic Inverse Problem In Chiral Media, Stephen R. Mcdowall

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We consider the inverse boundary value problem for Maxwell's equations that takes into account the chirality of a body in R³ . More precisely, we show that knowledge of a boundary map for the electromagnetic fields determines the electromagnetic parameters, namely the conductivity, electric permittivity, magnetic permeability and chirality, in the interior. We rewrite Maxwell's equations as a first order perturbation of the Laplacian and construct exponentially growing solutions, and obtain the result in the spirit of complex geometrical optics.

Total Determination Of Material Parameters From Electromagnetic Boundary Information, M. S. (Mark Suresh) Joshi, Stephen R. Mcdowall

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In this paper we complete the proof that the material parameters can be obtained for a chiral electromagnetic body from the boundary admittance map. We prove that from the admittance map, the parameters are uniquely determined to infinite order at the boundary. This removes the assumption of such knowledge in the result of the second author regarding interior determination for chiral media.

Boundary Value Problems In Krein Spaces. Dedicated To The Memory Of Branko Najman, Branko Ćurgus

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Three boundary value problems are considered in a Krein space setting.

The Planet, 2000, Winter, Shane Powell, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Structural And Tectonic History Of The Eastern San Juan Islands, Washington, Rynn Marie Lamb

WWU Graduate School Collection

In order to address the heterogeneous character of the Decatur terrane, the rocks that occur within the easternmost San Juan Islands, Washington, are described and compared with respect to lithology, metamorphism, and structure. Based on these observations, a local structural and tectonic history is proposed.

The exposed bedrock in the south part of the study area (Guemes, Huckleberry, Hat, Dot, and Saddlebag Islands) consists primarily of an arc-volcanic intrusive complex (diorite with crosscutting mafic to felsic dikes) as well as ultramafic cumulates of dunite, Iherzolite, and wehrlite. Most of the igneous rocks have no deformational fabric and are relatively unmetamorphosed, …

An Exploratory Statistical Analysis Of The Ground Water In The Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer, Sharon Gelinas

WWU Graduate School Collection

The Abbotsford-Sumas aquifer is a primarily unconfined aquifer, located in Whatcom County, WA, with a history of nitrate contamination. Whatcom County is a large producer of raspberries and contains numerous dairy farms. Both of these agricultural practices involve large quantities of nitrates being produced or used for fertilization. A two-year ground water monitoring program was conducted in 1997 and 1998 by Western Washington University in order to determine the spatial and temporal extent of the nitrate contamination. Possible trends in nitrate concentrations may be associated with ground water movement, chemical and biological nitrate reduction processes, seasonality and land use. Exploratory …

Hydrostratigraphy, Groundwater Flow, And Nitrate Transport Within The Abbotsford Sumas Aquifer, Whatcom County, Washington, David V. (David Vaughn) Stasney

WWU Graduate School Collection

From April 1997 to January 1999, a water quality study in a four square mile area in northern Whatcom County was conducted by the Geology Department and the Institute for Watershed Studies at Western Washington University. As part of this study, this thesis focused on characterizing the hydrostratigraphy, groundwater flow directions and flow velocities and developing a groundwater model using MODFLOW and Boss GMS version 2.0 (GMS) to simulate groundwater flow and nitrate transport within this area. Monthly groundwater levels and water quality data were collected and analyzed from 21 domestic wells and one piezometer in the field and at …

Late Holocene Aggradational Processes And Rates For Three Alluvial Fans, Cascade Foothills, Washington, John Delachapelle

WWU Graduate School Collection

Aggradation histories going back to the mid Holocene were compiled by subsurface investigation for three alluvial fans in the Cascade foothills, northwest Washington. Sygitowicz, Radonski, and Hardscrabble Creeks originate on the east slope of Stewart Mountain in steep, wooded watersheds (0.36 to 5.5 km²) and drain to the South Fork Nooksack River valley where they have built small (0.28 to 0.61 km²) post-Pleistocene alluvial fans. Ten trenches, excavated to a depth of 3 to 5 meters on the three fans, exposed well-preserved strata and paleosols.

The processes of strata deposition were identified by correlation with the …

Glacial Chronology And Paleoclimatic Significance Of Cirque Moraines Near Mts Baker And Shuksan, North Cascade Range, Wa, Robert A. (Robert Allen) Burrows

WWU Graduate School Collection

Moraines of at least two ages occur in alpine cirques near the Mt. Baker volcano in the North Cascades Range, WA. The south Swift Creek cirque preserves a distinct sequence of moraines representing the two primary age groups. In south Swift Creek cirque, the upper group of moraines (1450-1550 m) has little soil development and vegetation. Increment borings of the oldest trees growing on the upper moraines suggest that they were formed between the late 1800s and early 1900s. This age range correlates with numerous late Little Ice Age (LIA) moraines elsewhere in the Cascade Range. The south Swift Creek …