Homological stability for classical groups

We prove a slope 1 stability range for the homology of the symplectic, orthogonal and unitary groups with respect to the hyperbolic form, over any fields other than $F_2$, improving the known range by a factor 2 in the case of finite fields. Our result more generally applies to the automorphism groups of vector spaces equipped with a possibly degenerate form (in the sense of Bak, Tits and Wall). For finite fields of odd characteristic, and more generally fields in which -1 is a sum of two squares, we deduce a stability range for the orthogonal groups with respect to the Euclidean form, and a corresponding result for the unitary groups. In addition, we include an exposition of Quillen's unpublished slope 1 stability argument for the general linear groups over fields other than $F_2$, and use it to recover also the improved range of Galatius-Kupers-Randal-Williams in the case of finite fields, at the characteristic.Comment: v2: Revision. Now recovers the Galatius-Kupers-Randal-Williams improved stability range for general linear groups over finite field

Evaluation of Modification of the Upper Batavia Dam on the Fox River, Illinois

Progress Report, Federal Aid Project F-136-R Segment 6Report issued on: August 2004Submitted to Office of Water Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resource

Speaking through the Silence: Narratives, Interaction, and the Social Construction of Sexual Selves

The purpose of this research is to study the construction of sexual selves. The research entails understanding how sexual selves emerge, develop, alter, sustain, transform or deconstruct. In all cases of sexuality, sex is something we, as active agents, do. It is for this reason that I adhere, in this work and otherwise, to the tenets of symbolic interactionism as this activity involves; (1) active agents who are composed of many different categorizations of selves including sexual selves, (2) the reflexive nature between the individual and the social realm wherein sexuality, in causal terms, takes the position of a dependent variable, and (3) the consistent attachment of meaning to social symbols.I am not convinced that the origins of sexual selves have been addressed properly in the existing literatures and, because of this, there are many questions I have and many avenues I wish to explore with regard to the acquisition and development of sexual selves, including, but not limited to, how external forces in the environment affect sexual selves, the mechanics within the differentiation of hidden and public sexual selves, and why some sexual selves survive while others fail and die out. Utilizing narratives and accounts provided by 39 participants in the study, I produce a basic conceptual underpinning for which to understand how sexual selves are constructed

Solar neutrino detection

More than 40 years ago, neutrinos where conceived as a way to test the validity of the solar models which tell us that stars are powered by nuclear fusion reactions. The first measurement of the neutrino flux, in 1968 in the Homestake mine in South Dakota, detected only one third of the expected value, originating what has been known as the Solar Neutrino Problem. Different experiments were built in order to understand the origin of this discrepancy. Now we know that neutrinos undergo oscillation phenomenon changing their nature traveling from the core of the Sun to our detectors. In the work the 40 year long saga of the neutrino detection is presented; from the first proposals to test the solar models to last real time measurements of the low energy part of the neutrino spectrum.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. III School on Cosmic Rays and Astrophysics August 25 to September 5, 2008 Arequipa (Peru) AIP conference proceedin

Selective Predation by Three Esocids: The Role of Prey Behavior and Morphology

We documented differential vulnerability of fathead minnows Pimephales promelas, gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum. and bluegills Lepomis macrochirus to predation by muskellunge Esox masquinongy. northern pike E. lucius. and tiger muskellunge E. masquinongy x E. lucius in a 700-L tank. Individual esocids (150-225 mm in total length) were combined with single species groups (N = 15) of optimal-sized prey (25-30% of predator length for bluegills, 37-43% for fathead minnows, and 30-36% for gizzard shad). Capture ability did not differ among esocids; however, mean captures per strike were higher for fathead minnow (0.67) and gizzard shad (0.78) than for bluegill (0.14). Morphology and antipredatory behavior, unique to each prey species, contributed to this differential vulnerability. In the field, we introduced equal numbers and similar sizes of these esocids into two systems, one with centrarchid prey and one with both centrarchid and gizzard shad prey. As predicted from laboratory work, esocids ate fewer prey and grew more slowly when centrarchids were the only prey than they did when gizzard were available. In a third reservoir, containing bluegills and gizzard shad, esocids strongly preferred gizzard shad over bluegills. To maximize growth and survival, esocids should be stocked in systems with soft-rayed or fusiform prey, such as cyprinids or shad, rather than in centrarchid-dominated systems.This study was supported in part by funds from the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act under project F-57-R