VT College of Science presents Breakthrough - A Student Research Magazine Vol. 1 No. 1 | Page 2

CONTENTS ADMINISTRATION 3 Dean’s Letter 4 Lay Nam Chang Dean Tim Long Associate Dean for Research and International Outreach Gary L. Long Associate Dean for Curriculum and Instruction J.P. Morgan Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Strategic Initiatives Janet Sanders Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration Jerry Via Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Instruction Revathy Ramachandran and Alison Kernell Burke ADVANCEMENT Quorum Sensing: The Bacterial Social Network 7 Jenny Orzolek Director of Development Donna Wardell Director of Alumni Relations Rosaire Bushey Director of Communications Tim Howland Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Ron Pelkey Muon Telescope: Calibration, Performance, and Absolute Muon Flux Measurements at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility 17 Carol Johnson DEPARTMENT HEADS pollution 22 The big role of small particles in uranium mine drainage Biochemistry Peter Kennelly Biological Sciences Brenda Winkel Chemistry Jim Tanko Economics Nic Tideman Geosciences Nancy Ross Mathematics Peter Haskell Physics Leo Piilonen Psychology Bob Stephens Statistics Eric Smith Nathaniel Van Kirk Assessing Motivational Factors in OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Consequences Scale 28 Zack Robinson Days of risky behavior: A study of risk compensation WWW.SCIENCE.VT.EDU College of Science Administration Suite 4300 300 Turner Street NW Blacksburg,Virginia 24061 540-231-5035 Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination or accessibility should contact the Office of Equity and Access. Editor/Designer - Katherine Fairbanks Visual Communications & Design, 2017 College of Architecture and Urban Studies