Nitrogen (N) fixation by specialized microorganisms (diazotrophs) influences global plankton productivity because it provides the ocean with most of its bio-available N. However, its global rate and large-scale spatial distribution is still regarded with considerable uncertainty. Here we use a global ocean nitrogen isotope model, in comparison with δ15NO3 observations,...
Since free riders in P2P network reduce the system's performance, how to maintain and encourage the nodes' cooperation is an important aspect of P2P related research. In this thesis, a P2P system is modeled based on two games: stag hunt game and snowdrift game. To relate the model to the...
Native bees play an important role as pollinators of natural vegetation and agricultural
crops. Yet many pollinators, including some native bees, are declining in numbers.
Some of the potential causes of these declines are habitat destruction and degradation
by various human land uses, including urban development and sprawl, construction of...
The adsorption of natural organic matter (NOM) to the surfaces of natural colloids
and engineered nanoparticles is known to strongly influence, and in some cases control,
their surface properties and aggregation behavior. As a result, the understanding of
nanoparticle fate, transport and toxicity in natural systems must include a fundamental...
This study introduces a layered model for rendering human teeth. Human teeth exhibit complex light interaction due to their layered structure. While the lighting responses of teeth have been studied in the dental industry for the production of realistic looking dentures, to our knowledge this is the first study of...
Interferon tau (IFN-τ) is the pregnancy recognition signal secreted by the trophectodermal cells of the developing bovine embryo that prevents luteolysis and maintains critical progesterone production. Recent evidence has suggested in addition to the mechanism of action identified in the uterus, there may be a direct effect of IFN-τ on...
Five U.S. high performance research reactors (HPRRs) are currently part of an international nonproliferation program with the objective of ultimately converting their highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to a new high density, low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel while still maintaining their reactor kinetic and thermal hydraulic performance. A uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo)...