2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session M Science and Engineering II North Voyageurs
Modeling White Pine Respose to Herbivory and Transplanting
The manipulation of ecosystems has been a pursuit of mankind for thousands of years. The goals of this manipulation have been
numerous and ever-changing, and recently restoration has emerged as a new reason for ecosystem manipulation. Ecologists have worked
to develop our understanding of many ecological processes such as community assemblages, ecological succession and species specific
roles in a healthy ecosystem. With the emergence of restoration as a new goal and our expanding knowledge of ecosystems came a new
scientific enterprise, restoration ecology. The complexity of the interplay between the various components of any ecosystem and our
limited knowledge of pre-alteration conditions assures the difficulty of most restoration efforts. However, given the general scientific
consensus that human activity has degraded many of our natural ecosystems it can be argued that restoration efforts are both practically
and morally imperative. Here, I describe the rationale for and goals of one restoration effort, propose a rigorous, quantitative evaluation of
its methods and a plan to offer recommendations for its future course.
Presentation Index: M1
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Biological Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Dryden, Nick
Cook, William
On Homomorphisms of Finitely Generated Abelian Groups and the Associated Rings
Two fundamental notions in abstract algebra are groups and rings. Cyclic groups, which are algebraically isomorphic to the group of
integers or the groups of integers modulo n, are the building blocks of all finitely generated Abelian groups. These cyclic groups, which are
also rings, are valuable tools which enable the study of more complicated groups and rings. In this presentation, we will provide and
demonstrate our efficient method of explicitly finding all group and ring homomorphisms from the group of integers modulo m to the group
of integers modulo n. Our solution not only gives the number of group and ring homomorphisms; but, more importantly, it shows the
algebraic structures of these sets of homomorphisms. Furthermore, we show what these homomorphisms actually are and how to find
them all. We also extend these results to group and ring homomorphisms of finitely generated Abelian groups and the associated rings.
Our methods utilize the Fundamental Theorem of Cyclic Groups, the Chinese Remainder Theorem, matrices, and discrete mathematics.
Our work is useful and enlightening for introductory abstract algebra students, as they frequently encounter specific questions on
homomorphisms. Our approach streamlines the solution process so that many specific questions can be solved in a uniform manner, and
it reveals deeper properties which are often unrealized when working on specific problems. The extraction of such underlying properties is
highly desirable and naturally aids the study of related and more complex problems at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Presentation Index: M2
Time: 2:20 p.m.
Department: Mathematics
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Elich, Hallie
Huang, Danrun
Lightning Detection Using Instrumentation
Lightning detection has many practical purposes for meteorologists in both the fields of research and personal safety. In an attempt to
remotely detect a lightning discharge I designed and built a lightning detector. The lightning detector measures the induced electromotive
force (emf) caused by fluxes in the electromagnetic field from a lightning discharge. Once built, the lightning detector was tested to
calculate the maximum range at which a lightning discharge could be detected. From the tests the lightning detector was calculated to
have a maximum working range of [9.1, 11.7] miles. The successful test of the lightning detector proves that through induction lightning
can be detected remotely.
Presentation Index: M3
Time: 2:40 p.m.
Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Stovern, Michael
Kubesh, Rodney
The Third Dimension of the Wind
Within meteorology the vertical component of the wind has been calculated or estimated but not actually measured due to the lack of
proper instrumentation. This presents challenges especially when dealing with air aloft, where wind is not bound by the ground and can
move vertically as well as horizontally. Using an original design that contains four force meters I have developed a device that will give the
third dimension of the wind. The four load cells are connected to a metal frame at four corners. Wires and springs then connect the
meters to a central ball which will be exposed to the wind. The force of the gusts will push on the suspended ball thus pulling on the load
cells will change the voltage within the instrument. A signal is then sent to a computer that will determine the direction, velocity, and
azimuth angle of the wind, thus giving an output in all three dimensions. Results of wind tunnel comparison with standard instruments will
be discussed.
Presentation Index: M4
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Malin, Charlene
Kubesh, Rodney
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 46
April 22, 2008