Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Influence Of Marine Topography On The Antarctic Ice Sheet, Daniel Michael Mullally Jr

LSU Master's Theses

The primary controls on Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) volume and extent include changes in water temperature, precipitation, atmospheric temperature, and sea level. Here we evaluate the influence of a 5th control, the depth of the continental shelf. Shelf depth affects ice sheet mass balance in the marine environment by controlling the flux of ice that can be exported to the marine environment. This is significant because heat exchange between ocean and ice sheet have been demonstrated to be a dominant control on marine ice volume (Pollard and DeConto, 2009). We used the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM) to simulate AIS …

A New Method In Distribution Theory With A Non-Smooth Framework, Yunyun Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this work, we present a complete treatment of the theory of thick distributions and its asymptotic expansion. We also present several applications of thick distributions in mathematical physics, function spaces, and measure theory. We also discuss regularization using different surfaces. In the last chapter we present some recent applications of distributions in clarifying the moment terms in the heat kernel expansion, and in explaining the relation between the heat kernel expansion and the cylinder kernel expansion.

Platinum Complexes With Tridentate Ligands As Models For Active Monofunctional Anticancer Drugs, Chase Koby Andrepont

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Pt(II) complexes bind preferentially at N7 of G residues of DNA, causing DNA structural distortions associated with anticancer activity. Some distortions induced by difunctional cisplatin are also found for monofunctional Pt(II) complexes with carrier ligands having bulk projecting toward the guanine base. This ligand bulk can be correlated with impeded rotation about the Pt–N7(guanine) bond. The objective of this study is to understand the influences of in-plane bulk of Pt(Ltri)G adducts (Ltri = tridentate carrier ligand, G = guanine derivative bound to a metal, but not tethered to another nucleobase). NMR spectroscopy provided conclusive evidence that Pt(Ltri)G (Ltri = di-(2-picolyl)amine …

Mercury Reduces Avian Reproductive Success Through Direct Embryotoxicity Rather Than Altered Parental Behavior, Stephanie Yen Chin

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Optimized Aperiodic Multilayer Structures For Absorbers And Thermal Emitters, Christopher H. Granier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, we begin with a brief introduction to nanophotonics. In particular, we will focus on the theory of computational electricity and magnetism, specifically, the method used for this research, the transfer-matrix method. We will also provide discussions of the principles which motivate the analysis of the multilayer structures: Planck's blackbody distribution, Kirchoff's law, and thermodynamics. Finally, we will provide a brief discussion of computer-based optimization algorithms, specifically NLOPT (a library which provides computational packages for nonlinear optimization) and genetic algorithms. This background information is necessary to understand discussions which occur in later chapters.

Chapter 2 will discuss multilayer …

Anthropogenic Impacts On Soil Microbial Processes In Coastal Wetlands: Nutrient Loading And Rising Co2 Levels, Havalend Ellen Steinmuller

LSU Master's Theses

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and global eutrophication are anthropogenic stressors impacting the environment of specific interest in wetland systems. Wetlands occupy a critical interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Fertilizer use for agriculture and treated wastewater disposal has increased nutrient loading to wetlands. Conflicting results on impacts of nitrogen loading to coastal wetland soils have been reported, though most studies have investigated short-term impacts of nutrient loading, not long-term integrated impacts. I investigated an 11-year period of nutrient loading on soils in an oligohaline coastal wetland. Nitrogen treatments of 0, 50, 200, and 1200 kg ha-1 yr-1 were paired …

Phylogenetic Tree Construction For Starfish And Primate Genomes Via Alignment Free Methods, Ambujam Krishnan

LSU Master's Theses

A phylogenetic tree is a tree like diagram showing the evolutionary relationship among various species based on their differences or similarity in their physical or genetic makeup.The similarity in their genetic makeup is traditionally measured based on pairwise distance between their gene sequences using sequence alignment methods. Due to the advancement in next generation sequencing technologies there is a huge amount of datasets available for partially or completely sequenced genomes. These massive datasets requires a faster comparison methods other than the traditional alignment-based approaches. Therefore, alignment free approaches are gaining popularity in recent years. In this thesis, we compare alignment-based …

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Puspa Lal Adhikari

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are introduced into the marine environment via oil seeps/spills, riverine discharges, continental runoff, coastal erosion, and atmospheric deposition. An estimated 2.1 x 1010g of PAHs entered into the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010. It became evident following the oil spill that accurate quantification of ultimate fate of these potentially carcinogenic and/or mutagenic organic pollutants is extremely challenging. In general, very little is known about PAHs fate, distribution and accumulation in the open ocean ecosystems. This study determines the upper ocean vertical fluxes and sedimentary PAHs accumulation rates …

Deposition Of Cadmium Sulfide And Zinc Sulfide Thin Films By Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapors From Molecular Precursors, Ashfaque Ahmed Memon, Malik Dilshad, Neerish Revaprasadu, Muhammad Azad Malik, James Raftery, Javeed Akhtar

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

New complexes with the general formula [M(S_2CN^nBu_2)_2] [where M = Cd^{II} (1) and Zn^{II} (2)] were synthesized and used as single source precursors to deposit thin films of cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide by the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique. The single crystal X-ray structures of 1 and 2 are also reported. Thermogravimetric analysis of 1 and 2 showed that both precursors decompose cleanly in a single step to produce their respective metal sulfides. The deposition of thin films was carried out on soda glass substrates in the 350--450 °C temperature range under inert conditions. The as-deposited thin films were …

Pfam Catalyzed Enantioselective Diethylzinc Addition To Imines, Özdemi̇r Doğan, Eda Çağli

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Chiral amines are important starting materials for the synthesis of biologically important compounds. Enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to imines is a reliable method for the synthesis of these compounds. Different chiral catalysts were developed and used for this method. Phosphorous based PFAM catalysts were tried for the first time in the enantioselective synthesis of amines by reacting diethylzinc with N-sulfonyl imines and N-diphenylphosphinoyl imines. Chiral amines were isolated with moderate to acceptable yields and enantioselectivities.

Effect Of Sonic Treatment On The Permeation Performance Of Cellulose Acetate Membranes Modified By N-Sio_2, Gülsen Asman, Mürvet Kaya, Nursel Pekel Bayramgi̇l

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were modified by nano-silicon dioxide (n-SiO_2), and they were exposed to ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 35 kHz. The effect of sonication on their water sorption tendency and permeation capability was investigated. The characterization of the membranes was done by FTIR and SEM analysis, and the hydrophilic character of the membranes was deduced by swelling studies and contact angle (CAn) measurements. Permeation studies of the membranes were performed by using the diffusion method and theophylline was used as a model chemical in the permeation studies. The results indicated that beside the high hygroscopic property of …

Preparation And Characterization Of Polyaniline Microrods Synthesized By Using Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid And Periodic Acid, Recep Taş, Muzaffer Can, Savaş Sönmezoğlu

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The preparation of polyaniline (PANI) microrod arrays in the presence of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSAH), a structure-directing agent, and in the presence of periodic acid (H$_{5}$IO$_{6})$, an oxidant in aqua-acidic media, was investigated. DBSAH was performed to distinguish the roles of both surfactant and dopant. The method of preparation of DBSAH and H$_{5}$IO$_{6}$ doped PANI (DBSAH-PANI) microrods in a reversed micelle had previously not been reported. The characterizations of the PANI microrods were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on the SEM results, we found that PANI microrods occur in …

Cockatoo Sands In The Victoria Highway And Carlton Hill Areas, East Kimberley: Baseline Surface Water Quality, Don Bennett, Luke Donovan, Duncan Palmer

Resource management technical reports

Cockatoo Sands are recognised as potentially suitable for irrigated agriculture because they are generally well drained and not subject to waterlogging and inundation. These characteristics allow them to be cultivated and prepared for planting of various crops during the wet and dry seasons of northern Australia.

Probing A Complex Dissociation Energy Surface With Experimental And Theoretical Methods, Hannah Elizabeth Bott

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Dendrimers are hyperbranched polymers with a tree-like structure that can be tuned for size, shape, and functionality. Dendrimers have exhibited numerous possibilities in chemical and biochemical processes as their use in host-guest systems and controlled gene and drug delivery vehicles. Distinct properties of dendrimers, such as well-defined architecture and high ratio of functional moieties to molecular volume, make these polymers substantially useful for the development of nanomaterials and medicines. It has recently been demonstrated that polypropylene-imine (PPI) dendrimers have specific physical properties that are well suited for many applications. More specifically, the nitrile-terminated dendrimer creates a unique environment that is …

The Future Of Squaw Valley And Alpine Meadows, Brian Friel

Pomona Senior Theses

This paper examines the ongoing conflict between Squaw Valley Ski Holdings and the local Tahoe community and analyzes this conflict within the greater historical context of ski resort consolidation and development across the Western United States.

Discovery Islands, Earth Islands: The Theory And Practice Of Island Imagery In Environmental Thought, Naomi A. Bosch

Pomona Senior Theses

Earth Island is a core metaphor of activist thought often applied in Environmental Analysis and related fields as a tool for thinking about the planet’s limited resources. It puts forth the claim that if only we thought of the earth as more like an island, we would better understand our connectivity to other living things and be drawn to develop better and more extensive practices of environmental stewardship. This thesis uses personal accounts of environmental life philosophies and political practices collected from residents of the Discovery Islands in British Columbia as a site for analytical comparison between the theory and …

Reforestation, Renewal, And The Cost Of Coal: Opposing A Manichean Worldview In Central Appalachia, Elizabeth R. Hansen

Pomona Senior Theses

Surface coal mining is a major form of land change and environmental degradation in Central Appalachia. Traditional mine reclamation iresults in unmanaged, unproductive grasslands that fail to mitigate many of the environmental costs of coal mining and are of minimal use to communities. Forestry reclamation is an alternative reclamation tactic that has the potential to address both environmental and socioeconomic concerns in Central Appalachia. A case study of Laurel Fork Mine in Eastern Kentucky is included.

Looking Beyond Fossil Fuel Divestment: Combating Climate Change In Higher Education, Robin Xu

Pomona Senior Theses

The young fossil fuel divestment movement is altering the landscape of climate change activism on US campuses. Student-run divestment campaigns are now pushing for institutions of higher education to withdraw their investments from the top 200 public fossil fuel companies. Despite student fervor, however, divestment has remained a controversial tactic for combating climate change. The first half of this thesis examines the stated motives of a selection of institutions that have officially agreed or declined to divest, and investigates the hypothesis that pushing for divestment alone will not achieve broad success because it does not appeal to a wide enough …

Ensuring Our Future Or Sowing The Seeds Of Our Own Destruction? Crop Insurance And Water Use In Texas, Michael Shapiro

Pomona Senior Theses

Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the United States. Policies that affect agriculture therefore have the potential to have a large effect on the overall use of water. Crop insurance is one such policy, which was found to significantly increase water use in the state of Texas. Much, but not all of this effect can be explained by an increase in planting density, and results vary widely by crop and by region.

Innovation Or Inundation: The Political Economy Of Sea Level Rise In The San Francisco Bay Area, Nicole Quilliam

Pomona Senior Theses

Sea levels are rising around the world due to climate change and the rise in greenhouse gas emissions causing an environmental climate crisis. This thesis paper analyzes how sea level rise is affecting the San Francisco Bay Area. It walks through the geographical factors contribute to more severe impacts of sea level rise, potential adaptation strategies, and discusses the economic impacts and political challenges of protecting communities from sea level rise.

Sheep Updates 2015 - Ravensthorpe, Bruce Mullan, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Chris Wilcox, Mike Hyder, Leigh Sonnerman, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Joe Young, Stephen Lee, Ian Robertson, Lucy Anderton, Hayley Norman, Ed Barrett-Lenard, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers fourteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Wool demand and supply - short term volatility, long term opportunities, Chris Wilcox, Principal of Poimena Analysis

4. Lifetime management for maternal ewes, Mike Hyder, Research Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

5. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats - what is the NLIS database? Leigh Sonnermann, …

Scientific Software Communities [Guest Editor Introduction], Andy Terrel, Michael Tobis, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Guest editor introduction

Cepsim: A Simulator For Cloud-Based Complex Event Processing, Wilson Higashino, Miriam Capretz, Luiz Bittencourt

Wilson A Higashino

As one of the Vs defining Big Data, data velocity brings many new challenges to traditional data processing approaches. The adoption of cloud environments in complex event processing (CEP) systems is a recent architectural style that aims to overcome these challenges. Validating cloud-based CEP systems at the required Big Data scale, however, is often a laborious, error-prone, and expensive task. This article presents CEPSim, a new simulator that has been developed to facilitate this validation process. CEPSim extends CloudSim, an existing cloud simulator, with an application model based on directed acyclic graphs that is used to represent continuous CEP queries. …

The Pascal Matrix Function And Its Applications To Bernoulli Numbers And Bernoulli Polynomials And Euler Numbers And Euler Polynomials, Tian-Xiao He, Jeff Liao, Peter Shiue

Tian-Xiao He

Three-Dimensional Geologic Model Of The Pecatonica Gas Storage Field, Winnebago County, Illinois, Nicole Kron, David Malone, Eric Peterson

Eric Wade Peterson

Matching Methods For Biomarker Evaluation: A Mapping With Causal Inference, Debashis Ghosh, Michael Sabel

Debashis Ghosh

In many medical settings, there is interest in evaluating the predictive ability of a candidate biomarker while adjusting appropriately for confounding factors. Recently, Janes and Pepe (2008, {\it Biometrics} 64: 1 -- 9) evaluated the effects of matching on classification accuracy for biomarkers. In this article, we note an analogy between the use of matching in causal inference with its role in the biomarker evaluation problem. This leads us to be able to import much of the literature on matching from causal inferential settings to the biomarker evaluation problem. This leads to a theoretical characterization of the bias properties of …

Multistrain Infections In Metapopulations, Sydney Garmer, Rachel Lynn, Dan Rossi, Alex Capaldi

Alex Capaldi

Investigating Anthropogenic Mammoth Extinction With Mathematical Models, Michael Frank, Anneliese Slaton, Teresa Tinta, Alex Capaldi

Alex Capaldi

Colloidal Plasmonic Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles: Properties And Applications, Urcan Guler, Sergey Suslov, Alexander V. Kildishev, Alexandra Boltasseva, Vladimir M. Shalaev

U. Guler

Analyzing Latency-Aware Self-Adaptation Using Stochastic Games And Simulations, Javier Camara, Gabriel A. Moreno, David Garlan, Bradley Schmerl

Gabriel A. Moreno

Self-adaptive systems must decide which adaptations to apply and when. In reactive approaches, adaptations are chosen and executed after some issue in the system has been detected (e.g., unforeseen attacks or failures). In proactive approaches, predictions are used to prepare the system for some future event (e.g., traffic spikes during holidays). In both cases, the choice of adaptation is based on the estimated impact it will have on the system. Current decision-making approaches assume that the impact will be instantaneous, whereas it is common that adaptations take time to produce their impact. Ignoring this latency is problematic because adaptations may …