Applied Mathematics Commons^™

Von Neumann Algebras And Extensions Of Inverse Semigroups, Allan P. Donsig, Adam H. Fuller, David R. Pitts

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

In the 1970s, Feldman and Moore classified separably acting von Neumann algebras containing Cartan MASAs using measured equivalence re- lations and 2-cocycles on such equivalence relations. In this paper, we give a new classification in terms of extensions of inverse semigroups. Our approach is more algebraic in character and less point-based than that of Feldman-Moore. As an application, we give a restatement of the spectral theorem for bimodules in terms of subsets of inverse semigroups. We also show how our viewpoint leads naturally to a description of maximal subdiagonal algebras.

A Mentoring Program For Inquiry-Based Teaching In A College Geometry Class, Nathaniel Miller, Nathan Wakefield

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

This paper describes a mentoring program designed to prepare novice instructors to teach a college geometry class using inquiry-based methods. The mentoring program was used in a medium-sized public university with approximately 12,000 undergraduate students and 1,500 graduate students. The authors worked together to implement a mentoring program for the first time. One author was an associate professor and experienced using inquiry-based learning. The other author was a graduate student in mathematics education. During the course of the year the graduate student first observed and then taught a college level inquiry-based geometry course for pre-service teachers. This article describes the …

Boundary Value Problems Of Nabla Fractional Difference Equations, Abigail M. Brackins

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this dissertation we develop the theory of the nabla fractional self-adjoint difference equation,

∇_a^ν(p∇y)(t)+q(t)y(ρ(t)) = f(t),

where 0 < ν < 1.We begin with an introduction to the nabla fractional calculus. In the second chapter, we show existence and uniqueness of the solution to a fractional self-adjoint initial value problem. We find a variation of constants formula for this fractional initial value problem, and use the variation of constants formula to derive the Green's function for a related boundary value problem. We study the Green's function and its properties in several settings. For a simplified boundary value problem, we show that the Green's function is nonnegative and we find its maximum and the maximum of its integral. For a boundary value problem with generalized boundary conditions, we find the Green's function and show that it is a generalization of the first Green's function. In the third chapter, we use the Contraction Mapping Theorem to prove existence and uniqueness of a positive solution to a forced self-adjoint fractional difference equation with a finite limit. We explore modifications to the forcing term and modifications to the space of functions in which the solution exists, and we provide examples to demonstrate the use of these theorems.

Advisers: Lynn Erbe and Allan Peterson

The Neural Ring: Using Algebraic Geometry To Analyze Neural Codes, Nora Youngs

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Neurons in the brain represent external stimuli via neural codes. These codes often arise from stimulus-response maps, associating to each neuron a convex receptive field. An important problem confronted by the brain is to infer properties of a represented stimulus space without knowledge of the receptive fields, using only the intrinsic structure of the neural code. How does the brain do this? To address this question, it is important to determine what stimulus space features can - in principle - be extracted from neural codes. This motivates us to define the neural ring and a related neural ideal, algebraic objects …

A Likelihood Approach To Estimate The Number Of Co-Infections, Kristian A. Schneider, Ananias A. Escalante

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Article abstract:

The number of co-infections of a pathogen (multiplicity of infection or MOI) is a relevant parameter in epidemiology as it relates to transmission intensity. Notably, such quantities can be built into a metric in the context of disease control and prevention. Having applications to malaria in mind, we develop here a maximum-likelihood (ML) framework to estimate the quantities of interest at low computational and no additional costs to study designs or data collection. We show how the ML estimate for the quantities of interest and corresponding confidence-regions are obtained from multiple genetic loci. Assuming specifically that infections are …

An Applied Functional And Numerical Analysis Of A 3-D Fluid-Structure Interactive Pde, Thomas J. Clark

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We will present qualitative and numerical results on a partial differential equation (PDE) system which models a certain fluid-structure dynamics. In Chapter \ref{ChWellposedness}, the wellposedness of this PDE model is established by means of constructing for it a nonstandard semigroup generator representation; this representation is essentially accomplished by an appropriate elimination of the pressure. This coupled PDE model involves the Stokes system which evolves on a three dimensional domain $\mathcal{O}$ being coupled to a fourth order plate equation, possibly with rotational inertia parameter $\rho >0$, which evolves on a flat portion $\Omega$ of the boundary of $\mathcal{O}$. The coupling on …

Combinatorial And Algebraic Coding Techniques For Flash Memory Storage, Kathryn A. Haymaker

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Error-correcting codes are used to achieve reliable and efficient transmission when storing or sending information across a noisy channel. This thesis investigates a mathematical approach to coding techniques for storage devices such as flash memory storage, although many of the resulting codes and coding schemes can be applied in other contexts. The main contributions of this work include the design of efficient codes and decoding algorithms using discrete structures such as graphs and finite geometries, and developing a variety of strategies for adapting codes to a multi-level setting.

Information storage devices are prone to errors over time, and the frequency …

Well-Posedness And Stability Of A Semilinear Mindlin–Timoshenko Plate Model, Pei Pei

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I will discuss well-posedness and long-time behavior of Mindlin-Timoshenko plate equations that describe vibrations of thin plates. This system of partial differential equations was derived by R. Mindlin in 1951 (though E. Reissner also considered an analogous model earlier in 1945). It can be regarded as a generalization of the Timoshenko beam model (1937) to flat plates, and is more accurate than the classical Kirchhoff-Love plate theory (1888) because it accounts for shear deformations.

I will present a semilinear version of the Mindlin-Timoshenko system. The primary feature of this model is the interplay between nonlinear frictional forces (``damping”) and nonlinear …

A Generalization Of Aztec Diamond Theorem, Part I, Tri Lai

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We consider a new family of 4-vertex regions with zigzag boundary on the square lattice with diagonals drawn in. By proving that the number of tilings of the new regions is given by a power 2, we generalize both Aztec diamond theorem and Douglas’ theorem. The proof extends an idea of Eu and Fu for Aztec diamonds, by using a bijection between domino tilings and non-intersecting Schr¨oder paths, then applying Lindstr¨om-Gessel-Viennot methodology.

A Simple Proof For The Number Of Tilings Of Quartered Aztec Diamonds, Tri Lai

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We get four quartered Aztec diamonds by dividing an Aztec diamond region by two zigzag cuts passing its center. W. Jockusch and J. Propp (in an unpublished work) found that the number of tilings of quartered Aztec diamonds is given by simple product formulas. In this paper we present a simple proof for this result.

A Non-Erasable Magnetic Memory Based On The Magnetic Permeability, J R. Petrie, K A. Wieland, R A. Burke, G A. Newburgh, J E. Burnette, G A. Fisher, A S. Edelstein

United States Army: Publications

A non-erasable memory based on using differences in the magnetic permeability is demonstrated. The method can potentially store information indefinitely. Initially the high permeability bits were 10–50 μm wide lines of sputtered permalloy (Ni₈₁Fe₁₉) on a glass substrate. In a second writing technique a continuous film of amorphous, high permeability ferromagnetic Metglas (Fe78Si13Bg) was sputtered onto a similar glass substrate. Low permeability, crystalline 50 Jlm wide lines were then written in the film by laser heating. Both types of written media were read by applying an external probe field that is locally modified by the permeability …

Downhill Domination In Graphs, Teresa W. Haynes, Stephen T. Hedetniemi, Jessie D. Jamieson, William B. Jamieson

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

A path π = (v₁, v₂, . . . , v_k+1) iun a graph G = (V, E) is a downhill path if for every i, 1 ≤ i ≤ k, deg(v_i) ≥ deg(v_i+1), where deg(vi) denotes the degree of vertex v_i ∈ V. The downhill domination number equals the minimum cardinality of a set S ⊆ V having the property that every vertex v ∈ V lies on a downhill path originating from some vertex in S …

Two-Source Energy Balance Model To Calculate E, T, And Et: Comparison Of Priestley-Taylor And Penman-Monteith Formulations And Two Time Scaling Methods, Paul D. Colaizzi, Nurit Agam, Judy A. Tolk, Steven R. Evett, Terry A. Howell, Prasanna H. Gowda, Susan A. O'Shaughnessy, William P. Kustas, Martha C. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The two-source energy balance (TSEB) model calculates the energy balance of the soil-canopy-atmosphere continuum, where transpiration is initially determined by the Priestley-Taylor equation. The TSEB was revised recently using the Penman-Monteith equation to replace the Priestley-Taylor formulation, thus better accounting for the impact of large and varying vapor pressure deficits (VPD) typical of advective, semiarid climates. This study is a comparison of the Priestley- Taylor and Penman-Monteith versions of the TSEB (termed TSEB-PT and TSEB-PM, respectively). Evaporation (E), transpiration (T), and evapotranspiration (ET) calculated by the TSEB-PT and TSEB-PM versions were compared to measurements obtained with microlysimeters, sap flow gauges, …

Random Search Models Of Foraging Behavior: Theory, Simulation, And Observation, Ben C. Nolting

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Many organisms, from bacteria to primates, use stochastic movement patterns to find food. These movement patterns, known as search strategies, have recently be- come a focus of ecologists interested in identifying universal properties of optimal foraging behavior. In this dissertation, I describe three contributions to this field. First, I propose a way to extend Charnov's Marginal Value Theorem to the spatially explicit framework of stochastic search strategies. Next, I describe simulations that compare the efficiencies of sensory and memory-based composite search strategies, which involve switching between different behavioral modes. Finally, I explain a new behavioral analysis protocol for identifying the …

A Population Model For Walleye In Nebraska Irrigation Reservoirs, Robert A. Kill

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Understanding how and why fish population size changes between years is a central theme in fisheries ecology. Fishery agencies have limited time and financial resources, thus there is a need for a quantitative way to direct the limited time and financial resources so agencies can manage fisheries more efficiently. I developed a tool for fishery managers that synthesizes common population indices and evaluated the relative importance of those indices given varying uncertainty in age-0 walleye Sander vitreus survival. Under most circumstances, I determined that resources are best utilized in reducing age-0 survival uncertainty when understanding walleye population growth. I applied …

Bimodules Over Cartan Masas In Von Neumann Algebras, Norming Algebras, And Mercer's Theorem, Jan Cameron, David R. Pitts, Vrej Zarikian

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

In a 1991 paper, R. Mercer asserted that a Cartan bimod- ule isomorphism between Cartan bimodule algebras A1 and A2 extends uniquely to a normal -isomorphism of the von Neumann algebras gener- ated by A1 and A2 (Corollary 4.3 of Mercer, 1991). Mercer's argument relied upon the Spectral Theorem for Bimodules of Muhly, Saito and Solel, 1988 (Theorem 2.5, there). Unfortunately, the arguments in the literature supporting their Theorem 2.5 contain gaps, and hence Mercer's proof is incomplete.

In this paper, we use the outline in Pitts, 2008, Remark 2.17, to give a proof of Mercer's Theorem under the additional …

The Neural Ring: An Algebraic Tool For Analyzing The Intrinsic Structure Of Neural Codes, Carina Curto, Vladimir Itskov, Alan Veliz-Cuba, Nora Youngs

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Neurons in the brain represent external stimuli via neural codes. These codes often arise from stereotyped stimulus-response maps, associating to each neuron a convex receptive field. An important problem confronted by the brain is to infer properties of a represented stimulus space without knowledge of the receptive fields, using only the intrinsic structure of the neural code. How does the brain do this? To address this question, it is important to determine what stimulus space features can - in principle - be extracted from neural codes. This motivates us to define the neural ring and a related neural ideal, …

Isomorphisms Of Lattices Of Bures-Closed Bimodules Over Cartan Masas, Adam H. Fuller, David R. Pitts

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

For i = 1; 2, let (Mi;Di) be pairs consisting of a Cartan MASA Di in a von Neumann algebra Mi, let atom(Di) be the set of atoms of Di, and let Si be the lattice of Bures-closed Di bimodules in Mi. We show that when Mi have separable preduals, there is a lattice isomorphism between S1 and S2 if and only if the sets

f(Q1;Q2) 2 atom(Di) atom(Di) : Q1MiQ2 6= (0)g

have the same cardinality. In particular, when Di is nonatomic, Si is isomorphic to the lattice of projections in L1([0; 1];m) where m is Lebesgue measure, regardless …

Generalized Analytic Fourier-Feynman Transform Of Functionals In A Banach Algebra F_(A1,A2)^(A,B), Jae Gil Choi, David Skough, Seung Jun Chang

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We introduce the Fresnel type class F_(A1,A2)^(a,b).We also establish the existence of the generalized analytic Fourier-Feynman transform for functionals in the Banach algebra F_(A1,A2)^(a,b).

Global Attracting Equilibria For Coupled Systems With Ceiling Density Dependence, Eric A. Eager, Mary Hebert, Elise Hellwig, Francisco Hernandez, Richard Rebarber, Brigitte Tenhumberg, Bryan Wigianto

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we present a system of two difference equations modeling the dynamics of a coupled population with two patches. Each patch can house only a limited number of individuals (called a carrying capacity) because resources like food and breeding sites are limited in each patch. We assume that the population in each patch is governed by a linear model until reaching a carrying capacity in each patch, resulting in map which is nonlinear and not sublinear. We analyze the global attractors of this model.

Modeling And Mathematical Analysis Of Plant Models In Ecology, Eric A. Eager

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Population dynamics tries to explain in a simple mechanistic way the variations of the size and structure of biological populations. In this dissertation we use mathematical modeling and analysis to study the various aspects of the dynamics of plant populations and their seed banks.

In Chapter 2 we investigate the impact of structural model uncertainty by considering different nonlinear recruitment functions in an integral projection model for Cirsium canescens. We show that, while having identical equilibrium populations, these two models can elicit drastically different transient dynamics. We then derive a formula for the sensitivity of the equilibrium population to …

Structure For Regular Inclusions, David R. Pitts

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We study pairs (C,D) of unital C∗-algebras where D is an abelian C∗-subalgebra of C which is regular in C in the sense that the span of {v 2 C : vDv∗ [ v∗Dv D} is dense in C. When D is a MASA in C, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a completely positive unital map E of C into the injective envelope I(D) of D whose restriction to D is the identity on D. We show that the left kernel of E, L(C,D), is the unique closed two-sided ideal of C maximal with respect to having trivial …

Negative Curves On Algebraic Surfaces, Thomas Bauer, Brian Harbourne, Andreas Leopold Knutsen, Alex Kuronya, Stefan Muller-Stach, Xavier Roulleau, Tomasz Szemberg

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We study curves of negative self-intersection on algebraic surfaces. In contrast to what occurs in positive characteristics, it turns out that any smooth complex projective surface X with a surjective non-isomorphic endomorphism has bounded negativity (i.e., that C2 is bounded below for prime divisors C on X). We prove the same statement for Shimura curves on Hilbert modular surfaces. As a byproduct we obtain that there exist only finitely many smooth Shimura curves on a given Hilbert modular surface. We. also show that any set of curves of bounded genus on a smooth complex projective surface must have bounded negativity

Systems Of Nonlinear Wave Equations With Damping And Supercritical Sources, Yanqiu Guo

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We consider the local and global well-posedness of the coupled nonlinear wave equations

u_tt – Δu + g₁(u_t) = f₁(u, v)

v_tt – Δv + g₂(v_t) = f₂(u, v);

in a bounded domain Ω subset of the real numbers (Rⁿ) with a nonlinear Robin boundary condition on u and a zero boundary conditions on v. The nonlinearities f₁(u, v) and f₂(u, v) are with supercritical exponents …

R0 Analysis Of A Spatiotemporal Model For A Stream Population, H. W. Mckenzie, Y. Jin, J. Jacobsen, M. A. Lewis

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Water resources worldwide require management to meet industrial, agricultural, and urban consumption needs. Management actions change the natural flow regime, which impacts the river ecosystem. Water managers are tasked with meeting water needs while mitigating ecosystem im- pacts. We develop process-oriented advection-diffusion-reaction equations that couple hydraulic flow to population growth, and we analyze them to assess the effect of water flow on population persistence. We present a new mathematical framework, based on the net reproductive rate R₀ for advection-diffusion-reaction equations and on related measures. We apply the measures to popula- tion persistence in rivers under various flow regimes. This …

Are Symbolic Powers Highly Evolved?, Brian Harbourne, Craig Hunkeke

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Searching for structural reasons behind old results and conjectures of Chudnovksy regarding the least degree of a nonzero form in an ideal of fat points in PN, we make conjectures which explain them, and we prove the conjectures in certain cases, including the case of general points in P2. Our conjectures were also partly motivated by the Eisenbud-Mazur Conjecture on evolutions, which concerns symbolic squares of prime ideals in local rings, but in contrast we consider higher symbolic powers of homogeneous ideals in polynomial rings.

A Study On Facility Planning Using Discrete Event Simulation: Case Study Of A Grain Delivery Terminal, Sarah M. Asio

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The application of traditional approaches to the design of efficient facilities can be tedious and time consuming when uncertainty and a number of constraints exist. Queuing models and mathematical programming techniques are not able to capture the complex interaction between resources, the environment and space constraints for dynamic stochastic processes. In the following study discrete event simulation is applied to the facility planning process for a grain delivery terminal. The discrete event simulation approach has been applied to studies such as capacity planning and facility layout for a gasoline station and evaluating the resource requirements for a manufacturing facility. To …

Global Well-Posedness For A Nonlinear Wave Equation With P-Laplacian Damping, Zahava Wilstein

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation deals with the global well-posedness of the nonlinear wave equation
u_tt − Δu − Δ_pu_t = f (u) in Ω × (0,T),
{u(0), u_t(0)} = {u₀,u₁} ∈ H¹₀ (Ω) × L ² (Ω),
u = 0 on Γ × (0, T ),
in a bounded domain Ω ⊂ ℜ ⁿ with Dirichlét boundary conditions. The nonlinearities f (u) acts as a strong source, which is allowed to …

On Morrey Spaces In The Calculus Of Variations, Kyle Fey

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We prove some global Morrey regularity results for almost minimizers of functionals of the form u → ∫_Ω f(x, u, ∇u)dx. This regularity is valid up to the boundary, provided the boundary data are sufficiently regular. The main assumption on f is that for each x and u, the function f(x, u, ·) behaves asymptotically like the function h(|·|)^α(x), where h is an N-function.

Following this, we provide a characterization of the class of Young measures that can be generated by a sequence …

How Do Neurons Work Together? Lessons From Auditory Cortex, Kenneth D. Harris, Peter Bartho, Paul Chadderton, Carina Curto, Jaime De La Rocha, Liad Hollender, Vladimir Itskov, Artur Luczak, Stephan Marguet, Alfonso Renart, Shuzo Sakata

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Recordings of single neurons have yielded great insights into the way acoustic stimuli are represented in auditory cortex. However, any one neuron functions as part of a population whose combined activity underlies cortical information processing. Here we review some results obtained by recording simultaneously from auditory cortical populations and individual morphologically identified neurons, in urethane-anesthetized and unanesthetized passively listening rats. Auditory cortical populations produced structured activity patterns both in response to acoustic stimuli, and spontaneously without sensory input. Population spike time patterns were broadly conserved across multiple sensory stimuli and spontaneous events, exhibiting a generally conserved sequential organization lasting approximately …