General-purpose and special-purpose visual systems

The information that eyes supply supports a wide variety of functions, from the guidance systems that enable an animal to navigate successfully around the environment, to the detection and identification of predators, prey, and conspecifics. The eyes with which we are most familiar the single-chambered eyes of vertebrates and cephalopod molluscs, and the compound eyes of insects and higher crustaceans allow these animals to perform the full range of visual tasks. These eyes have evidently evolved in conjunction with brains that are capable of subjecting the raw visual information to many different kinds of analysis, depending on the nature of the task that the animal is engaged in. However, not all eyes evolved to provide such comprehensive information. For example, in bivalve molluscs we find eyes of very varied design (pinholes, concave mirrors, and apposition compound eyes) whose only function is to detect approaching predators and thereby allow the animal to protect itself by closing its shell. Thus, there are special-purpose eyes as well as eyes with multiple functions

Duality in Off-Shell Electromagnetism

In this paper, we examine the Dirac monopole in the framework of Off-Shell Electromagnetism, the five dimensional U(1) gauge theory associated with Stueckelberg-Schrodinger relativistic quantum theory. After reviewing the Dirac model in four dimensions, we show that the structure of the five dimensional theory prevents a natural generalization of the Dirac monopole, since the theory is not symmetric under duality transformations. It is shown that the duality symmetry can be restored by generalizing the electromagnetic field strength to an element of a Clifford algebra. Nevertheless, the generalized framework does not permit us to recover the phenomenological (or conventional) absence of magnetic monopoles.Comment: 18 page

Four Leaves from 'La Hypnerotomachia di Polifilo'

Includes bibliographical reference

Water Wise Landscape Practices: A Case Study for the City of Gering

This professional project is founded on my education, experiences, and networks. I have had the opportunity to use what I have learned thus far and be challenged to look at public planning from a different perspective. In partnership with the City of Gering I was able to get knee deep in the facility planning of the city owned property which is home to the Community Ever Green House. The project reviews how the property is integrated into the community and the impact it has. Then, identifies opportunities to improve overall functionality with a closer look at addressing hazard mitigation using green infrastructure planning for stormwater management due to adverse impacts stemming from the neighboring properties and the runoff from the greenhouse roof. The project scope includes meetings with property managers, identifying key challenges, then proposing a plan for improvements, followed by implementing some of the recommendations and leaving with key project objectives to continue with. Research methodology involves a mixed method approach with the use of quantitative and qualitative data in the form of primary and secondary sources. Qualitative data is gathered through interactions with municipal staff, a volunteer workforce, and nonprofit organizations. Case studies of projects addressing similar challenges will provide a scope of recommendations. Quantitative data is gathered through scientific analysis of stormwater volume runoff, infiltration rates and grading slopes. Primary data sources include interviews, on-site evaluations, planning meetings, public engagement events and mentored sessions. Secondary data sources include case studies, GIS site mapping, and numerous other studies, polls, and journal articles that provide a mixture of qualitative and quantitative data. The result of the project includes a site analysis, a proposed plan of improvements which addresses walkability and storm water management, with the use of plants and bioswales, furthermore a planting plan, project timeline, completed activities and recommendations for completion. Review Committee: Professor Zhenghong Tang, Ph.D., Program Director, CRPL Assistant Professor Abigail Cochran, Ph.D., CRPL Professor Kim Todd, Extension Horticulture Specialist Licensed Landscape Architect Annie Folck, P.E., Gering, Nebraska City Enginee

Altobello Melone's "Picenardi Alterpiece"

"The paintings of the Cremonese artist, Altobello Melone (flourished ca. 1508-1535) are not very well known, in part because relatively few of them are located outside of Italy. The recent migration of two of his works, both predella panels, Saint Helen QuestioningJudas and Proving of the True Cross, to the Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri-Columbia, is, then, especially welcomed. The arrival of the panels, which were formerly in a private collection in Milan, is unusually significant for another reason, too. The museum already owns the central panel of the altarpiece to which the two much smaller works originally belonged. Most importantly the panels offer the opportunity to appreciate two paintings of singular beauty."--First paragraph.Includes bibliographical reference

Task 7 space storable propellant module environmental control technology

Design of thermal control system for cryogenic fluid storage tank

Task 3 space storable propellant module environmental control technology Summary report

Thermal control system for space storable propellant modul

Space storable propellant module thermal control technology. Volume 2 - F2/N2H4 propulsion module Summary report

Space storable fluorine/hydrazine tank module thermal control design for Jupiter missio