Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Expected And Achievable Accuracy In Estimating Parameters Of Standing Accretion Shock Instability (Sasi) Fluctuations From Neutrinos And Gravitational Wave Oscillations, Colter Richardson, Jonathan Westhouse

Undergraduate Research Symposium - Prescott

Core collapse supernovae are one of the most interesting sources of gravitational waves. When the progenitor star is particularly massive, hydrodynamic instability called standing accretion shock instability can develop and it is characterized by deterministic oscillations in the gravitational wave signal as well as in the neutrino luminosity with frequencies of 100hz. In this talk we will review current efforts to extract physical information from the SASI components of the gravitational wave and enhance the detectability of gravitational waves with such components both using laser interferometers and neutrino detectors.

Research In Optics For Gravitational Wave Detection, Britney Biltz, Noura Ibrahim, Brennan Moore

Undergraduate Research Symposium - Prescott

B.Biltz uses a horizontal “Zollner style” pendulum to monitor changes in the local gravitational field. The pendulum is attracted to the moon and the Sun and so, as the Earth turns, the pendulum’s equilibrium point shifts within a 24-hour period. This is an experiment designed to test the limits of such a pendulum. This sort of system may be useful as a method of monitoring and correcting for gravity gradient noise in future gravitational wave detectors.

N.Ibrahim characterizes thermo-optic noise in high-performance mirror coatings of the type used in Advanced LIGO. To characterize thermo-optic noise, she measures the change in …

Applications Of Diels-Alder Chemistry In Polymer Synthesis, Joshua C. Stambaugh, Philip J. Costanzo, Sierra E. Gosting

STAR Program Research Presentations

Diels-Alder chemistry is utilized for a myriad of commercial applications during polymer synthesis, ranging from self-healing materials to heat responsive materials to emulsion coatings. In particular, the ability to regulate and control the amount and type of functional group linkages is key component for polymer applications. A common strategy that is employed is the use of phenolic maleimide as a dienophile during Diels-Alder synthesis to control the linkages on a polymer, which determines its properties and functionality. This summer was the beginning of a project to prepare a commercial scale, water-based emulsion floor coating/polish. The first step in this project …

Percent On & Off, Johannes Familton

Open Educational Resources

This PowerPoint was made for a Quantitative Reasoning, Liberal arts math course. This is an example of what one can do using only OER resources. This PowerPoint with the use of animation, animated gifs and a nice background keeps students engaged in the lesson. The contents of this lesson is taken from Math in Society, by David Lippman, Pierce College Ft Steilacoom. The text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. PPT Background: http://www.MyFreePPT.com Animated gifs: http://www.zingerbug.com

Using Experiential Learning In Course Curriculum: The Case Of A Core Engineering Graphics Course, Martha Marie Snyder, Manuel Salinas, Molly J. Scanlon

CCE Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches and Lectures

This work-in-progress paper overviews how an experiential education program was established at a private, non-profit university in the southeast, describes the process for certifying experiential courses using a formal course review process and qualification rubric, and details the case of a freshman engineering graphics course.

Grounded in the early works of Dewey, Lewin, and Piaget, experiential learning theory has become increasingly popular in higher education. Experiential learning serves as a foundation for lifelong learning and the development of the whole self as a citizen, family member and human being (Kolb, 2015). Austin and Rust (2015) define experiential learning as “‘hands-on’ …

International Energy Geopolitics, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Overview of international energy geopolitical trends. Emphasizes the importance of the Persian Gulf, South China Sea, East China Sea, Russia, and the Arctic to U.S. and international economic and strategic developments. Stresses the continuing importance of fossil fuels in domestic and international energy consumption, the variety of energy sources being used by various global regions, the potential for military conflict over access to natural resources, and how emerging energy leaders will determine global energy, environmental, and international security developments.

New Reactions Of Strained Allyl Silacycles, Elizabeth Cummins

Graduate Student Symposium

Ring-strained allylsilanes exhibit both electrophilic and nucleophilic characteristics, allowing for simultaneous activation and allylation of carbonyl compounds. Results are presented describing an optimized synthesis of certain allylsilacyclobutanes and their use in several selective carbon-carbon bond forming reactions.

Comparative Study Of Qubits, Juliano A. Everett, Mubinjon Satymov, Zechariah Ilmot

Publications and Research

In quantum computing, a quantum bit ("qubit") is a unit of quantum information. A qubit is a two-level quantum system. The developing of qubits with optimal properties, related to quantum entanglement and possibilities of control the states of qubits, is very important for quantum computing applications. We analyzed various types of qubits. There are at least five major quantum computing approaches being explored worldwide: silicon spin qubits, ion traps, superconducting loops, diamond vacancies and topological qubits. We compared the advantages and disadvantages in the properties of all these qubits for applications for quantum computing. We analyzed possible strategies to improve …

Forecasting Smart Meter Energy Usage Using Distributed Systems And Machine Learning, Feiran Ji, Chris Dong, Lingzhi Du, Zizhen Song, Yuedi Zheng, Paul Intrevado

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

In this research, we explore the technical and computational merits of a machine learning algorithm on a large data set, employing distributed systems. Using 167 million(10 GB) energy consumption observations collected by smart meters from residential consumers in London, England, we predict future residential energy consumption using a Random Forest machine learning algorithm. Distributed systems such as AWS S3 and EMR, MongoDB and Apache Spark are used. Computational times and predictive accuracy are evaluated. We conclude that there are significant computational advantages to using distributed systems when applying machine learning algorithms on large-scale data. We also observe that distributed systems …

Plant Biodiversity In The Face Of Climate Change: What Will Become Of Coastal Endemic Species?, Nila Le

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

How will longitudinally constrained coastal flora fare in the face of rapid anthropogenic climate change and disturbance? Coastal communities pose a unique problem for climate change and its associated risks. Species that are concentrated along the coast are naturally vulnerable to the influence of harsh abiotic ecology, such as coastal erosion and high salt concentrations. In addition, analogous to montane species-habitat interactions, coastal communities may be “pushed” off the coast edge as a result of tracking preferred climate in the face of climate variability and sea level rise. This can be problematic for species that cannot disperse quickly enough to …

An Optimization Approach To Automate The Generation Of Radiotherapy Treatment Plans, Qian Li

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The main goal of radiotherapy is to deliver a specified dose of radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing radiation damage to healthy tissues. Currently, the treatment plan is being developed by professional planners using a commercial treatment planning system. In this treatment planning system, the planner modifies the objectives and weights of the objectives until an ideal combination of doses is achieved. This arbitrary process can cost a few hours or a day to finish. My research aims to automate the generation of the plans by implementing an optimization algorithm on top of the treatment planning system using gradient …

Improving Habitat Restoration For Native Pollinators In San Francisco, Tyrha Delger

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

By looking at how these three species are conserved inside and outside of San Francisco, how an urban environment might affect habitat conservation, and lessons learned from other cities’ restoration projects, we can improve urban habitat conservation projects.

Ctle - Meteorological Sensors Incorporated Into A Uas For Pedagogical Purposes, David Ehrensperger, James Curtis, Dorothea Ivanova, Mark Sinclair, Jacqueline R. Luedtke, Tim Holt, Jennah Perry, Johnny L. Young, Nicholas E. Harris

David Ehrensperger

Can Prescribed Fire Reduce Tick Parasitism Of Birds?, Leslie A. Sterling, Kim Medley, Katie Westby, Solný Adalsteinsson

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Tick-borne diseases spread through enzootic transmission cycles that often involve ticks parasitizing bird hosts. Some avian species are competent reservoirs, amplifying the pathogens that cause tick-borne illnesses in humans. Prescribed burns in forests have the potential to reduce tick-borne disease risk if they limit interactions between ticks and infectious wildlife hosts. Although prescribed burns are increasingly being used for a variety of habitat management purposes, little is known about how they affect tick-host interactions. We hypothesize that if prescribed fires reduce tick abundance, then birds in burned forest plots will host fewer ticks than birds in unburned forest plots. Experimental …

A Socioeconomic Valuation Of Urban Wetland Ecosystems And Policy Recommendation For College Lake, Michael Dunmyer

Student Scholar Showcase

The current dilemma of College Lake offers a unique case study for how urban ecosystems can not only subsist within cities but provide pivotal functions for them as well. With the potential for a dam-breaching storm event increasing in possibility with each passing year, concerns regarding the structural integrity of the College Lake dam in Lynchburg, VA have arisen. Such concerns have led the City of Lynchburg to consider reinforcement or removal of the dam in order to mitigate flood risks along the Blackwater Creek floodplain. Since its formation following the installation of the Depression-era dam, however, College Lake has …

Creating A Predictive Model For Flowering Of Virginia Orchid, Cypripedium Pubescens, Emily Horton

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Magnetic Thin Films Using The Magneto Optic Kerr Effect, Nicholas J. Savino

Student Scholar Showcase

Understanding magnetic properties of materials allows for advances in applications such as data storage. The Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) displays the reflective response a magnetic material has to a magnetic field. When polarized light reflects off of a magnetic material, the polarization orientation can change. The application of an external magnetic field can affect how much this polarization changes in a non-linear manner. Hysteresis loops are created when examining the relationship between intensity of the reflected light to the applied magnetic field provide information about magnetic properties of that material, such as the coercive field and field retention. Preliminary measurements …

Eating Crickets? Nutrient Mineral Content Of Two Cricket Species And Chapul Cricket Protein Bars Using Mp-Aes, Nathan Hopkins

Student Scholar Showcase

Global agriculture is beset by numerous challenges which must be surmounted to feed a developing world, from combating climate change to the cultivation of sustainable food products. This, in addition to protein and nutrient deficiencies in the developing world, makes considering alternative protein sources, such as a crickets, an attractive option. Crickets use a fraction of the land and water that protein sources like beef cattle do, and can be cultivated in urban environments in stacked boxes. This research investigation aims to quantify the nutrient mineral content (Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium) of two cricket species (Acheta domesticus …

Elemental Analysis Of Beer Manufactured In Virginia Satellite Breweries, Jennifer Wiliams

Student Scholar Showcase

Financial incentives from the state and wider distribution potential have lured many west coast brewers to open satellite breweries in Virginia. Quality control is crucial for any brewery and especially important in satellite breweries that need to imitate the standard set by the parent brewery. Zinc, magnesium, iron, sodium manganese, and calcium are trace elements found in wort and are essential for enzymes that catalyze fermentation reactions. These elements protect against cell stress, play a crucial role in flocculation, and can affect the flavoring and coloration of beer. Barley, water, and hops are the sources of these elements in beer. …

Topical Analysis Of The Enron Emails Using Graph Theory, Casey Kalinowski

Student Scholar Showcase

The Enron Scandal of the early 2000s shook the financial world. The subsequent investigation of the Enron Corporation resulted in the arrests of many top-level executives, but are these employees the only ones responsible for the wide scale fraud in the company? A topical analysis of a social network of over 150 employees of the Enron Corporation using Graph Theory could result in new findings or prove that the investigators were correct in their original findings. The research is a retrospective analysis of a corpus of over 500,000 emails from more than 150 employees and top-level executives of the Enron …

Computational Investigation Of The Ring-Opening Homo- And Co-Polymerizations Of Lactide And Ε-Caprolactone, Diego Garcia, Benjamin Wilson, Joe Fritsch

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The mechanism for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide and ε-caprolactone is presented here with an aluminum-centered catalyst featuring a tridentate ligand and two alkoxide initiating ligands. In each homopolymerization, the addition of electron-withdrawing groups on the tridentate ligand lowers the activation energy of the reaction by increasing the electrophilicity of the central Aluminum. We further investigated the polymerizations by comparing the energy difference between copolymerization and homopolymerization following the initial ring opening as well as the potential for dual polymer chains from the insertion of both initiating ligand. Single chain polymerization is favored in every case, due to lower bond …

2018-02-08-Video-00000297 (3).Mp4, Padmanaban Krishnan

Padmanaban Krishnan

Fire-Induced Mineralogical Changes In Midwest Tallgrass Prairie Soils, Lacey Legrand

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Tallgrass prairies are productive ecosystems that historically covered a large part of the Midwest and in the past were subjected to frequent, natural fire regimes. Today prairie remnants are often managed by ecological burns. Glacier Creek Preserve is a restored prairie in Omaha, Nebraska that includes randomized research plots established in 1978 to study the effects of burning on vegetation and provides a controlled field environment to investigate the effects of fire on soils. The purpose of this study is to compare soil mineralogy in long-term burned and unburned plots to answer the question: “Does prescribed burning induce mineralogical changes …

Amazon Alexa: The Best Personal Assistant Or An Eavesdropping Witch, Alisa Bohac, Michael Keck

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The prolific integration of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices into our homes is continuously generating discussions surrounding the security and privacy of these devices. One device that has received particular attention in the past few years is the Amazon Alexa, a ‘personal assistant’ IoT device, which listens to user commands and performs certain actions. According to Amazon, “millions of Alexa devices” were sold in the 2017 Holiday period alone [1]. However, the continuous amalgamation of technology has prompted the idea that many digital devices, through their overall functionality, could be utilized by cybercriminals to digitally intrude into our personal lives [2]. Hence, …

Supercell Crystal Structure Of Na2ga2(Bo3)2, Grace Brown

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Na₂Ga₂(BO₃)₂O is an oxyborate with a reported crystal structure in the trigonal space group P1c. The literature states that the three-dimensional structure is created from infinite stacking of parallel [NaGa₂(BO₃)₂] ∞ sheets separated by sodium layers. Our single-crystal X-ray diffraction data requires some modification to this structure. We believe that Na₂Ga₂(BO₃)₂O actually possesses a supercell crystal structure with lower symmetry. The borate anions within the [NaGa₂(BO₃)₂ ] sheets are not parallel to each …

Intelligent And Human-Aware Decision Making For Semi-Autonomous Human Rehabilitation Assistance Using Modular Robots, Anoop Mishra

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Modular Self-reconfigurable Robots (MSRs) are robots that can adapt their shape and mobility while performing their operations. We are developing an MSR called MARIO (Modular Robots for Assistance in Robust and Intelligent Operations) to assist patients with spinal cord injury in performing daily living tasks. In this research, we are investigating computational techniques that will enable MARIO to autonomously adapt its shape while performing an assistive task, and, while remaining aware of the human user’s satisfaction in receiving assistance from MARIO. We are developing semi-autonomous decision making techniques within a computational framework called shared autonomy that will adapt MARIO’s movements …

Rpp Panel Chicago: History Of Cafecs, Lucia Dettori, Dale Reed, Steven Mcgee, Don Yanek, Andrew Rasmussen, Ronald Greenberg

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

The Earth's Magnetosphere, Soren Ormseth

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is an Earth orbiting satellite launched in 2008; designed to map the boundary of our Solar System. In this presentation, we focus on how data collected by the IBEX-Hi sensor can be used to map the distribution of hot ions within the Earth's magnetosphere. As opposed to other satellites, IBEX images the magnetosphere from afar rather than by going through it. An improvement on the previous imaging techniques was developed, and we compare the new results to the old.

'Catch The King' Tide Thank You And Review, Jon Derek Loftis

Presentations

"Catch the King" was a citizen science GPS data collection effort centered in Hampton Roads, VA, that mapped the King Tide's maximum inundation extents to validate and improve predictive models for future forecasting of increasingly pervasive "nuisance" flooding. GPS data points collected by volunteers effectively breadcrumbed/traced the high water line by pressing the 'Save Data' button in the Sea Level Rise App every few steps along the water's edge during the high tide on the morning of Nov. 5th, 2017.

Response from the event's dedicated volunteers, fueled by the local media partners' coverage leading up to the event, and over …

Shape Modeling And Boulder Mapping Of Asteroid 1992 Uy4, Nicholas Duong

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The structure and history of near-Earth asteroids are important to
study because they collide with Earth, sometimes with significant consequences for
climate and the survival of many species, including our own. If NASA is ever to deflect an asteroid on a collision course, it is crucial to know as much as possible about its size, composition, structure and boulder distribution. The boulder
distribution in turn helps to map the asteroid's gravitational field.

1992 UY4 is a near-Earth asteroid discovered in 1992. In August 2005, UY4 made a
``close" (for space) pass of Earth, about 15x farther than the Moon. It …