https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.012
Editorial: Teaching Something New — Nanoscience
https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.013
Author(s):
C. C. Chancey
Affiliation:
American Journal of Undergraduate Research, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0150 USA
Design, Construction and Testing of a Desktop Supersonic Wind Tunnel
https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.014
Author(s):
Vi H. Rapp, Jennifer Jacobsen, Mark Lawson, Andrew Parker, Kuan Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 USA
ABSTRACT:
A mobile and affordable, miniature wind tunnel to aid students in studying high-speed compressible flows was constructed and tested. Millimeter-sized nozzles of different contours were fabricated to produce supersonic flows at Mach 2. The complete system consists of a converging-diverging nozzle, a load cell, pressure and temperature sensors, a tank to store high-pressure gases, and a computer-aided data acquisition system. The wind tunnel system is mounted to a cart, making it convenient to move. This test facility allows students to study and test supersonic flows in a safer environment while eliminating the high costs for a full-sized facility. Gas pressure was measured at various locations in the nozzle. A load cell consisting of four cantilever beams was constructed and used to determine the thrust of the nozzle. Data collected from each nozzle was compared to numerical simulations. In all cases, the simulations were in good agreement with the experimental data.
Effects of a Glutamine Supplement on the Skeletal Muscle Contractile Force of Mice
https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.015
Author(s):
Derek Waddell and Kim Fredricks
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Viterbo University, 921 S. 7th Street La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 USA
ABSTRACT:
L-glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in human muscle and plays an important role in protein synthesis. It is, therefore, believed that by increasing L-glutamine levels, protein metabolism can be increased, resulting in skeletal muscle growth. The goal of this research was to determine if increased L-glutamine levels enhanced muscle growth in mice. Comparisons between the contractile force of the gastrocnemis muscles of a control group and a group that received the supplement through their water supply were intended to determine if muscle growth occurred. T-tests were used to compare the contractile forces of the experimental and control mice. There was a significant difference between the contractile forces of the experimental and control groups. This suggests that L-glutamine supplementation increased the muscle growth of the experimental mice.
Optimization of the Split-Operator Method for Modeling of Quantum System Time Evolution
https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.016
Author(s):
D. V. Vlasov
Affiliation:
Physics Faculty, Dept. of Theoretical Physics, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St.-Petersburg 191186, Russia
ABSTRACT:
A continuing and important problem in modeling physical processes deals with creating optimum calculation algorithms. These algorithms should provide the necessary precision yet not demand a lot of storage and time for evaluations. In the present paper the numerical integration of the non-stationary Schrödinger equation (NSSE) is considered. There are many numerical methods of integration of this equation to the present moment. In this paper, we explore the split-operator method (SOM) and consider a way of lessening time computing expenses in view of specificity of the given method. We also consider the choice of optimum discretization steps in coordinate and momentum space. The computer application that we outline is applicable, in method and preparation, to the solution more difficult problems, and it has been applied to simple chemical reactions. We use standard atomic units to simplify equations in the analysis that follows.
Computer-Mediated Communication: Development of an Intranet for a University Academic Department
https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2005.017
Author(s):
Oyenike Olufunmilayo Samantha Laoye
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
ABSTRACT:
The Intranet has been said to be one of the most important technological developments in Computer Communications. Whilst it is now a common, rapidly growing resource in the business world for the dissemination of information, it is yet to be fully explored in educational institutions. Intranets have an enormous potential to transform education in interesting and challenging ways as they offer an exciting approach for improving and facilitating innovative ways of supporting communication and also for accessing teaching and learning resources. This paper discusses the importance and usefulness of Computer-Mediated Communication in the enhancement of human communications and the focus is on the application of the Intranet (a form of Computer-Mediated Communication) in the context of campus-based university education. This is illustrated by means of a case study and a realistic example i.e. the development of an Educational Intranet (CS.IntraNet) for the Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.