Studies in Applied Mathematics Available

Though our print subscription here in Swain ended to this MIT sponsored Blackwell journal back in the early 1990s, the online version is available right now (for one reason or another..it's unclear right now why).

Today's Science Snack

Today's Friday Science Snack are Newman's Own "Ginger Os"! Did you know that Pythagorus was a big proponent of ginger in ancient Greece? Can ginger relieve migraines, motion sickness, and arthritis? Use the the library if you want answers to these questions; ginger also contains antioxidants. And I can tell you this, a cup of ginger tea is certainly better for you than those ridiculous high-energy drinks like Jolt, or Red Bull.

This photo is from Andrew Davidhazy, professor of Imaging and Photographic technology at Rochester Inst. Technology.

All Swain Bound Journals Now Circulate

At this semester's Swain Hall Library Committee meeting, the group went along with the library's suggestion to allow all subject area journals to circulate.
Historically astronomy and mathematics journals were the only ones coded as circulating; physics and computer science have always been non-circulating (photocopies must be made in the library). This rule has served both the library and users well for many years, but the sheer quantity of peer-reviewed online journals available at desktops now seems to preclude the need for keeping bound volumes on the shelf at all times. If you have comments or objections to this move, please let me know. We think the benefits far outweigh negative consequences of loaning bound journals. We'll see how it goes. If we run into problems we'll revisit this issue.

* note: this image was somewhat randomly selected from a web site called livingvalues.net. I don't know who the artist is, but I doctored it up by drawing a book in the character's hand.

Mathematical Physics, 2006, Five Volume Set

Digital Imaging and the Science behind it

So, what does the scanning of digital images, mathematics and science all have in common? The answer can be found in the book Digital Image Processing, by Kenneth R. Castleman.

When it comes to the concept of digital imaging, most people only think about the very basics of the scanning process. Resolution, scanner settings, output options on a computer screen and photo manipulation are all familiar ideas and processes to everyone, but what the general public may not realize is that, below the surface, there is an entire mathematical and scientific process behind the scanning of images.

In his book, Castleman shows how concepts from subjects such as calculus, linear algebra, physics and even physical and analytical (instrumental) chemistry tie into the digital imaging process. Who would've thought that scanners used in Image-Digitizing involve the interplay of matrices, integrals and other mathematical expressions with various charge-coupled (electron-moving) devices?

The physics and mathematics behind the electronics may be more obvious, but how does this relate to chemistry? It turns out that many of these same electronic devices are also used in various chemical instrumentation, such as an HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) which analyze liquid and gaseous chemical compounds, respectively. It is interesting to see that these cathode-diode tubes have been used in a wide range of applications.

If you would like to learn more, the book is available in the Swain Hall Library under call number TA1632 .C37 1996.

It can also be purchased on Amazon.com