Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Geosciences Newsletter - 2014, Department Of Geosciences

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

Vol. 7, No. 1

• Faculty Updates
• Michigan Geological Survey
• News from MGRRE
• WMU Geosciences Advisory Council
• Meet our Students
• Geology Club
• In Remembrance
• Meet Our New Graduate Students
• CoreKids: our K-12 Outreach Program
• 2014 Geosciences Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
• Gifts to Geosciences

Increasing Sustainability By Going Paperless: A Wmu Case Study, James Amos, James Kison

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

This is a study analyzing the use of digital signatures to reduce paper consumption at WMU. The poster demonstrates ways in which technology promotes sustainability by saving time, fuel and paper.

Probing Stability And Unfolding Of The N-Terminal Domains 5-6 Of Wilson Protein, Ibtesam Y. Alja'afreh, Ramakrishna Guda, David L. Huffman

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

The Wilson protein (ATP7B) is a copper transporting P1b type ATPase found in the liver, brain, and other organs. The N-terminal end consists of six copper binding domains which have a ferrodoxin βαββαβ fold with a CxxC motif. Despite similarities in copper binding affinities they interact differently with the HAH1 metallochaperone. Studying the stability of these domains will help understanding the differences in their functions. The stability of WLN5-6 was probed using several different methods: Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Circular dichroism (CD) and Fluorescence spectroscopy methods.

Previous studies show that WLN5-6 has a spherical shape and CD chemical unfolding studies …

Optical Properties Of Bi-Icosahedral Au25 And Au24 Clusters: Influence Of Central Gold Atom, Viraj Dhanushka Thanthirige, Ekkehard Sinn, Rongchao Jin, Guda Ramakrishna

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Temperature-dependent absorption and ultrafast luminescence measurements of [Au₂₄(PPh₃)₁₀(SC₂H₄Ph)₅Cl₂]+(bi-Au₂₄) were studied and compared with [Au₂₅(PPh₃)₁₀(C₆S)₅Cl₂]₂+ (bi-Au₂₅). The investigations are carried out on these two clusters as they are structurally similar except for the absence of central Au atom for bi-Au24. The objective of the work is to probe the influence of the central gold atom on the optical transitions and electron-phonon interactions in bi-icosahedral nanoclusters. The investigations are focused …

Are You Getting What You Paid For? A Case Study In Forensic Geochemistry, Abdelmawgoud Mohammed, R. V . Krishnamurthy

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Introduction

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that differ in atomic mass due to different number of neutrons in the nucleus. Some isotopes are stable isotopes and others are unstable, or radioactive, isotopes. Stable isotopes maintain constant concentrations in the environment over time. Unstable isotopes continue to decay into daughter elements. Stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen are the most commonly used in environmental and ecological research.

Forensic geochemistry is a relatively new discipline that uses chemical and isotopic markers to solve problems of forensic interest. These include fingerprinting oil spills, food adulteration and forgery in …

Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy To Differentiate Chromophore-Dna Binding Interactions, Saad H. Alotaibi, Kelly M. Usakoski, Mohammad Hatshan, Ramakrishna Guda

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

The study of molecule-DNA binding interactions are vital as they are the principle components behind drug action, transcription and replication. Optical spectroscopic techniques are often used to study these interactions. However, the existing techniques cannot differentiate different binding motifs of intercalation and minor-grove binding. In the present study, we present a novel approach based on the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections of chromophores to differentiate the intercalation and minor-grove binding interactions. The investigations are carried out using three cyanine derivatives Diethylthiacyanine iodide (DTI), 3,3′-Diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (DTCI) and 3,3′- Diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide (DTDCI). The chromophores were chosen as they are similar series of …

Asymmetric Reactions Of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Using Green Chemistry Principles, James J. J. Kiddle

Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA)

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Students’ Perceptions Of Stress In Parallel Problem-Based And Lecture-Based Curricula, Sonia Wardley, Brooks Applegate, Deyab Almaleki, James Van Rhee

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Introduction

What is stress? Research asserts that stress is the mental state that results from an inability to cope (Burton 2004)

Why focus on stress?

• Persistent stress can lead to serious psychological problems such as interpersonal difficulties, depression, anxiety, and even suicide (Shapiro 2000)
• Several studies have found up to a third of medical students experience stress-related problems

The importance of this study comes from: A review of the extent literature suggests there is no systematic inquiry of the effects of stress experienced by students in LBL and PBL curricula in PA education

Bioremediation Of Crude Oil Spills Impacts Microbial Communities And The Magnetic Susceptibility Of Sediments, Carol L. Beaver, Anja Williams, Estella Atekwana, Gamal Abdel Aal, Farag Mewafy, Lee Slater, Silvia Rossbach

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

A worldwide increase in the production, shipment, and storage of crude oil has led to an increase in oil spills, and efforts to physically remove this oil from the environment are often insufficient. As a result, hydrocarbon contamination that is not eliminated by suction, excavation, or by dispersants remains in the water and sediments to be degraded by microbes. Initially, the bioremediation of oil occurs aerobically, but as oxygen is depleted, microbes must switch to alternate electron acceptors. Gradients of terminal electron acceptors form over time, which in conjunction with the toxic properties of oil, have an effect on the …

Multi-Electron Transfer From Charged Semiconductor Surfaces To Quantized Bimetallic Nanoparticles, Ali Bolandi, Sherine O. Obare

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Palladium-platinum bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared using a novel method of hydrothermal co-reduction of precursors. Elemental analysis, x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy indicated the formation of spherical bimetallic nanoparticles with a size distribution of 2.5 ± 0.5 nm. When the Pd/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles were brought in close contact with an electron-rich surface, the particles accepted and stored the electrons. Multiple electrons were found to be stored in the Pd/Pt bimetallic NPs.

Crystal And Molecular Structures Of New Metallocarboranes, Au25 Gold Cluster And Metal Sensor Molecules, Agozie N. Oyeamalu, Rathnayaka Madawala, Viraj Thanthirige, Ekkehard Sinn

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Introduction

Bragg’s equation has become one of the most trusted model used to calculate crystal structures.

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of Max von Laue’s Nobel Prize for discovering that X-Rays fired into a crystal of copper sulfate produced a characteristic diffraction pattern.

2015 will be the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize to Bragg and Bragg for their equation that ultimately led to X-ray crystallography.

Time-Dependent Photoionization Of Gas Outflows In Agn, Ehab Elhoussieny, Manuel A. Bautista, J. Garcia, T. R. Kallman

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Gas outflows are fundamental components of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) activity. Time-variability of ionizing radiation, which is characteristic of AGN in various different time scales, may produce non-equilibrium photoionization conditions over a significant fraction of the flow and yields supersonically moving cooling/heating fronts. These fast fronts create pressure imbalances that can only be resolved by fragmentation of the flow and acceleration of such fragments. This mechanism can explain the kinematic structure of low ionization BAL systems (FeLoBAL). We will study these effects in detail by constructing time-dependent photoionization models of the outflows and incorporating these models into radiative-hydrodynamic simulations.

The Green Manufacturing Industrial Consortium’S (Gmic) Approach To Zero-Waste-To-Landfill (Zwtl), Nathan J. Christensen, Marylin Glass-Angeles

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Introduction: As organizations continually seek to reduce various forms of waste, some may seek to reduce their landfill impact and improve recycling and material disposal practices. Many organizations interested in reducing their landfill waste have embarked on a zero-waste-to-landfill (ZWTL) journey. This journey involves thoroughly exploring the landfill waste of an organization, reverse tracking the waste to its source, and establishing new practices and procedures for eliminating the source of waste from the landfill stream. The purpose of this poster is to describe the methodology used by the Green Manufacturing Initiative to assist companies on their ZWTL journey.

Research Report 2014-2015, College Of Arts And Sciences

Physics Research Reports

• Introduction
• From the Chair
• Research Spotlight: Zbigniew Chajecki, Ph.D.
• Refereed Publications
• Invited Presentations
• Contributed Presentations
• External Grant Activity (Submitted and Awarded)
• Notable Awards and Memberships
• Doctoral Dissertations
• Department Personnel