Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Concentration, Ph, And Surface Charge Effects On Cadmium And Lead Sorption In Three Tropical Soils, Chip Appel, Lena Ma

Earth and Soil Sciences

Reactions of heavy metals with soil are important in determining metal fates in the environment. Sorption characteristics of two heavy metals, Cd and Pb, in three tropical soils (Mollisol, Oxisol, and Ultisol) from Puerto Rico were assessed at varying metal concentrations (0 to 1.2 mM) and pH values (approximately 2 to 7). All soils sorbed more Pb than Cd. Sorption maxima were obtained for each metal for the Oxisol and Ultisol soils, but not the Mollisol. Sorption appeared to depend more on soil mineralogy than organic matter content. Sorption isotherms were linear within the sorption envelope with similar slopes for …

Building Web Applications With Servlets And Javaserver Pages, David S. Janzen

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Servlets and JavaServer Pages provide the ability to dynamically generate web pages using the Java programming language. Among other benefits, the use of Java on the server-side allows the web developer to directly implement object-oriented designs, utilize multiple threads of execution, and employ JDBC to communicate with a database. This tutorial will introduce Servlets and JavaServer Pages through UML diagrams, code samples, and an example web application.

Importance Of Soil Texture To Vineyard Management, Thomas J. Rice

Earth and Soil Sciences

No abstract provided.

Visualizing The Phonon Wave Function, Scott C. Johnson, Thomas D. Gutierrez

Physics

A phonon often is described as ‘‘a quantum of lattice vibration,’’ but this description can be difficult to reconcile with the wave functions explored in a typical undergraduate quantum mechanics class. A phonon wave function is similar to the harmonic oscillator wave functions studied in introductory quantum mechanics, except that it is many-dimensional. We suggest a way to visualize the probability density for this very high-dimensional wave function. The resulting pictures are especially clear and intuitive for a coherent state, which is both a good approximation to a sound wave and a discrete analog to laser light. These pictures can …

Variable Stars In The Field Of Open Cluster Ngc 6819, R. A. Street, Keith Horne, T. A. Lister, A. Penny, Y. Tsapras, A. Quirrenbach, N. Safizadeh, J. Cooke, David Mitchell, A. Collier Cameron

Physics

We report on the discovery of 25 variable stars plus 13 suspected variables found in the field of the open cluster NGC 6819. The stars were identified from time-series photometric data obtained on the Isaac Newton Telescope, La Palma, during two observing runs covering the 19 nights between 1999 June 22–30 and 1999 July 22–31. The variables found include 12 eclipsing binaries with an additional three suspected, nine BY Draconis systems, plus four variables of other types, including one star believed to be a Cepheid. Three of the 15 eclipsing binaries are believed to be cluster members. Details of a …

Ontology-Based Semantic Classification Of Unstructured Documents, Ching Kang Cheng, Xiao Shan Pan, Franz J. Kurfess

Computer Science and Software Engineering

As more and more knowledge and information becomes available through computers, a critical capability of systems supporting knowledge management is the classification of documents into categories that are meaningful to the user. In a step beyond the use of keywords, we developed a system that analyzes the sentences contained in unstructured or semi-structured documents, and utilizes an ontology reflecting the domain knowledge for a semantic classification of the documents. An experimental system has been implemented for the analysis of small documents in combination with a limited ontology; an extension to larger sets of documents and extended ontologies, together with an …

Plant Establishment With Rainfall Simulators For Erosion Control, Brent Hallock, Steve Rein, Misty Scharff, Michael Curto

Earth and Soil Sciences

Hydroseeding failures on disturbed sites are usually attributable to combinations of improper species selection, seeding at inappropriate times, and/or improper seed mixes, fiber, and tackifier. To investigate these factors, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in conjunction with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and California State University, Sacramento, conducted a study of these factors’ affect on vegetation establishment.

The goal was to identify initially fast growing vegetation that demonstrates long-term erosion control effectiveness. Native plant species common to District 5, along the California Central Coast, were used. Treatments were conducted in 0.6 by 2 m by 30 cm …

A Gis To Select Plant Species For Erosion Control Along California Highways, Michael Curto, Brent Hallock, Misty Scharff

Earth and Soil Sciences

Through road construction and maintenance activities, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) actively manages roadside rights-of-way that transect California's 41 million hectares (101 million acres), spanning over 3,000 meters of elevational change from seashore to subalpine. State and federal highways are grouped into 12 districts, each encompassing from one to 11 of the state's 58 counties. District personnel are typically responsible for implementing site-specific adaptations of general statewide guidelines for shortto long-term erosion control following construction or storm damage. Many erosion control projects involve reestablishing vegetation through seeding where the precarious life stages of germination and establishment are controlled by …

Integrating Symbol-Oriented And Sub-Symbolic Reasoning Methods Into Hybrid Systems, Franz J. Kurfess

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Knowledge representation and reasoning methods in artificial intelligence almost exclusively rely on symbol-oriented methods: Statements describing aspects and objects of the system to be modeled are represented through symbols (mostly text strings), and these symbols are stored in a computer, and manipulated according to the inference rules prescribed by the reasoning method. This works reasonably well in situations where knowledge is available in explicit form, typically through experts or written documents. In situations where knowledge is only available implicitly, e.g. in large data sets, other methods, often based on statistical approaches, have been used more successfully. Many of these methods …

Human-Robot Interaction: Final Report For Darpa/Nsf Study On Human-Robot Interaction, Erika Rogers, Robin R. Murphy

Computer Science and Software Engineering

No abstract provided.

Sheaf Cohomology Of Conscious Entity, Goro Kato

Mathematics

Awareness of a conscious entity can exist without elements; therefore, the general notion of an object of a category is employed. One of the characterization of understanding is: for a given local infonnation (awareness) there exists a global information whose restriction is the given information. For such mental activities, category and sheaf theories are employed to formulate consciousness. We will show that the cohomology (more general precohomology) object, a subquotient object, better represents the essence of a conscious entity than an object itself. We will also give a definition of an observation to fonnulate the collapse of the wave and …

Calorimetric Study Of Block-Copolymers Of Poly(N-Butyl Acrylate) And Gradient Poly(N-Butyl Acrylate-Co-Methyl Methacrylate), A I. Buzin, M Pyda, P Costanzo, K Matyjaszewski, B Wunderlich

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The nanophase separation in diblock and triblock copolymers consisting of immiscible poly(n-butyl acrylate) (block A) and gradient copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (n BA) (block M/A) were investigated by means of their heat capacity, C_p, as a function of the composition of the blocks M/A and temperature. In all copolymers studied, both blocks are represented by their C_p and glass transition temperature, T_g, as well as the broadening of the transition-temperature range. The low-temperature transition of the blocks A is always close to that of the …

Category Theory And Consciousness, Goro Kato, Daniele C. Struppa

Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Orbifold Homeomorphism And Diffeomorphism Groups, Joseph E. Borzellino, Victor Brunsden

Mathematics

In this paper we outline results on orbifold diffeomorphism groups that were presented at the International Conference on Infinite Dimensional Lie Groups in Geometry and Representation Theory at Howard University, Washington DC on August 17-21, 2000. Specifically, we define the notion of reduced and unreduced orbifold diffeomorphism groups. For the reduced orbifold diffeomorphism group we state and sketch the proof of the following recognition result: Let O1 and O2 be two compact, locally smooth orbifolds. Fix r ≥ 0. Suppose that Φ : Diffr (O1) → Diffr (O2) is a group isomorphism. Then Φ is induced by redred a (topological) …

Levy-Like Continuity Theorems For Convergence In Distribution, Theodore P. Hill, Ulrich Krengel

Research Scholars in Residence

Levy’s classical continuity theorem states that if the pointwise limit of a sequence of characteristic functions exists, then the limit function itself is a characteristic function if and only if the limit function satisfies a single universal limit condition (in his case, the limit at zero is one), in which case the underlying measures converge weakly to the probability measure represented by the limit function. It is the purpose of this article to give a number of direct analogs of L´evy’s theorem for other probability-representing functions including moment sequences, maximal moment sequences, mean-residual-life functions, Hardy-Littlewood maximal functions, and failure-rate functions. …

Random Probability Measures With Given Mean And Variance Running Title: Random Probability Measures, Lisa Bloomer, Theodore P. Hill

Research Scholars in Residence

This article describes several natural methods of constructing random probability measures with prescribed mean and variance, and focuses mainly on a technique which constructs a sequence of simple (purely discrete, finite number of atoms) distributions with the prescribed mean and with variances which increase to the desired variance. Basic properties of the construction are established, including conditions guaranteeing full support of the generated measures, and conditions guaranteeing that the final measure is discrete. Finally, applications of the construction method to optimization problems such as Plackett’s Problem are mentioned, and to experimental determination of average-optimal solutions of certain control problems.

Large Sets Of Zero Analytic Capacity, John Garnett, Stan T. Yoshinobu

Mathematics

We prove that certain Cantor sets with non-sigma-finite one-dimensional Hausdorff measure have zero analytic capacity.

Computer Sound Card Assisted Measurements Of The Acoustic Doppler Effect For Accelerated And Unaccelerated Sound Sources, Thomas J. Bensky, S. E. Frey

Physics

An approach to experimentally measuring the speed of a moving object by direct application of the Doppler effect for sound is discussed. The method presented here uses a Windows computer and sound card to record Doppler shifted sound from a moving source. This sound card approach allows for direct acquisition of Doppler shifted sound intensity as a function of time, affording much analytical and pedagogical freedom in undergraduate lab instruction. In addition, the acquisition of such data allows for the experimental study of not only constant velocity sound sources, but of accelerated sound sources as well.

The Cataclysmic Variable Cw 1045+525: A Secondary-Dominated Dwarf Nova?, C. Tappert, J. R. Thorstensen, W. H. Fenton, N. Bennert, L. Schmidtobreick, A. Bianchini

Physics

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the cataclysmic variable CW 1045+525. Both the optical spectrum and the photometric lightcurve show a strong contribution of a K5V-M0V secondary. We derive an orbital period d by measuring the radial velocities of the absorption lines of the secondary. The period and spectral type of the secondary suggest a distance of 350-700 pc. There is evidence for additional sources of line- and continuum emission, but no direct evidence of an accretion disc. We discuss several scenarios for the nature of CW 1045+525 on the basis of our results, finding a dwarf nova classification …

Magnetite Morphology And Life On Mars, Peter R. Buseck, Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski, Bertrand Devouard, Richard B. Frankel, Martha R. Mccartney, Paul A. Midgley, Mihály Pósfai, Mathew Weyland

Physics

Nanocrystals of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) in a meteorite from Mars provide the strongest, albeit controversial, evidence for the former presence of extraterrestrial life. The morphological and size resemblance of the crystals from meteorite ALH84001 to crystals formed by certain terrestrial bacteria has been used in support of the biological origin of the extraterrestrial minerals. By using tomographic and holographic methods in a transmission electron microscope, we show that the three-dimensional shapes of such nanocrystals can be defined, that the detailed morphologies of individual crystals from three bacterial strains differ, and that none uniquely match those reported from …

Sequential Searches: Proofreading, Russian Roulette, And The Incomplete Q-Eulerian Polynomials Revisited, Don Rawlings

Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Enhanced Double Ionization With Circularly Polarized Light, Glen D. Gillen, M. A. Walker, L. D. Van Woerkom

Physics

Using 120-fs, 800-nm Ti:sapphire laser pulses, ionic yields of singly and doubly charged magnesium ions were measured as a function of intensity and laser field ellipticity. A clear “nonsequential” enhancement of the doubly charged ion is observed for circularly polarized light in addition to linearly polarized light. Over the entire intensity range the double-ionization yield is considerably higher for linear polarization than it is for circular polarization.

Computing Cyclomatic Complexity With Cubic Flowgraphs, Yongming Tang, Ali H. Dogru, Franz J. Kurfess, Murat M. Tanik

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Two new methods for the computation of cyclomatic complexity especially for decomposable representations are introduced. Building software by integration is a developing paradigm, especially enabled by the emerging component technologies. Decomposition of the design for a top-down approach is a prerequisite for this paradigm. Cubic flowgraphs are instrumental in providing formalisms for decomposition and integration. Cyclomatic complexity analysis of a design representation that is decomposable is the goal of this research. In addition to introducing cyclomatic complexity computation using cubic flowgraphs, preservation of cyclomatic complexity in the decomposition of the cubic flowgraph is also presented.

Whose Limit Is It Anyway?, Joseph E. Borzellino

Mathematics

In a tongue-in-cheek manner, we investigate the notion of limit. We illustrate some of its shortcomings and show that addressing these shortcomings can often lead to unexpected consequences.

Magnetic Microstructure Of Bacterial Magnetite By Electron Holography, Martha R. Mccartney, Ulysses Lins, Marcos Farina, Peter R. Buseck, Richard B. Frankel

Physics

A brackish lagoon at Itaipu, Brazil, contains magnetotactic bacteria with unusually large magnetite magnetosomes (lengths 100–200 nm). The micromagnetic structures of the magnetosomes from two different coccoid organisms from the lagoon have been determined by electron holography. The results are consistent with single-magnetic-domain structure in the elongated magnetosomes from one organism and metastable, single-magnetic-domain structure in the larger, more equi-axed, magnetosomes from the other organism. The results are consistent with theoretical predictions of the transition dimension between stable and metastable single-domain structure in magnetite.

The Meaning Of An Information-Centric Computer Environment, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

It is often lamented that we human beings are suffering from an information overload. This is a myth, as shown in Fig.1 there is no information overload. Instead we are suffering from a data overload. The confusion between data and information is not readily apparent and requires further explanation. Unorganized data are voluminous but of very little value. Over the past 15 years, industry and commerce have made significant efforts to rearrange this unorganized data into purposeful data, utilizing various kinds of database management systems. However, even in this organized form, we are still dealing with data and not information.

Crystal-Size Distributions And Possible Biogenic Origin Of Fe Sulfides, Mihály Pósfai, Krisztina Cziner, Emö Márton, Péter Márton, Peter R. Buseck, Richard B. Frankel, Dennis A. Bazylinski

Physics

Sedimentary greigite (Fe₃S₄) can form either by ''biologically controlled'' or by ''biologically induced mineralization'' (BCM and BIM, respectively). In order to identify the origin of magnetic Fe sulfides, we studied and compared the sizes and morphologies of greigite crystals produced by a magnetotactic microorganism (previously described and referred to as the ''many-celled magnetotactic prokaryote'', MMP) and Fe sulfides from two specimens of Miocene sedimentary rocks (from Łaka, in the foredeep of the Western Carpathians and from Michalovce, in the Transcarpathian Depression). Greigite grains from the MMP and the Łaka rock show nearly Gaussian crystal-size distributions (CSDs), …

Off-Axis Electron Holography Of Magnetotactic Bacteria: Magnetic Microstructure Of Strains Mv-1 And Ms-1, R. E. Dunin-Borkowski, Martha R. Mccartney, Mihály Pósfai, Richard B. Frankel, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Peter R. Buseck

Physics

Off-axis electron holography in the transmission electron microscope is used to characterize the magnetic microstructure of magnetotactic bacteria. The practical details of the technique are illustrated through the examination of single cells of strains MV-1 and MS-1, which contain crystals of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) that are ~50nm in size and are arranged in chains. Electron holography allows the magnetic domain structures within the nanocrystals to be visualized directly at close to the nanometer scale. The crystals are shown to be single magnetic domains. The magnetization directions of small crystals that would be superparamagnetic if they were isolated …

Precise Environmental Searches: Integrating Hierarchical Information Search With Envirodaemon, George Chang, Gunjan Samtani, Marcus Healey, Franz J. Kurfess, Jason Wang

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Information retrieval has evolved from searches of references, to abstracts, to documents. Search on the Web involves search engines that promise to parse full-text and other files: audio, video, and multimedia. With the indexable Web at 320 million pages and growing, difficulties with locating relevant information have become apparent. The most prevalent means for information retrieval relies on syntax-based methods: keywords or strings of characters are presented to a search engine, and it returns all the matches in the available documents. This method is satisfactory and easy to implement, but it has some inherent limitations that make it unsuitable for …

Determination Of Surface Heterogeneity And Enthalpies Of Ca-K And Pb-K Systems In Tropical Soil Using Flow Adsorption Calorimetry, Chip Appel, Lena Ma, Dean Rhue, Bill Reve

Earth and Soil Sciences

No abstract provided.