Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Quantitative Evaluation Of The Htc Vive For Virtual Reality Research, Ethan Luckett

Honors Theses

The equipment typically used in virtual reality (VR) research, including head-mounted displays (HMDs) and motion capture systems, has traditionally been prohibitively expensive. The recent increase in the availability of consumer-grade VR equipment has greatly lowered the barrier to entry for VR research. The equipment typically used for research can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, but the consumer-grade HTC Vive system offers an HMD with room-scale tracking for less than $500. In order for scientific studies to be properly conducted using the Vive, its tracking must be well understood. This study measures the accuracy and drift in the …

Automating The Calculation Of Hilbert-Kunz Multiplicities And F-Signatures, Gabriel Johnson

Honors Theses

We describe an application written to automate a calculation for the mathematical research of Dr. Spiroff of University of Mississippi & Dr. Enescu of Georgia State University. This work represents a way to overcome the barriers of the mathematical calculations in obtaining theoretical results.

O-Glcnac Post Translational Modification Of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (Hif) Proteins, Hailey Elisabeth Grisham

Honors Theses

O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) post-translational modification (O- GlcNAcylation), plays a vital role in many metabolic pathways, including those of numerous diseases. New research methods and basic functional roles of O-GlcNAc post- translational modification on metabolism, human health, and cancer are quickly developing, but a vast amount of research remains on the specificity of this pathway towards specific proteins. In this study, T47D breast cancer cells were used as an in vitro model to investigate the effects of O-GlcNAc modification on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) proteins.

Investigation Of Vibrational Signatures Of Nitrobenzenes Enhanced By Argyrophilic Interactions, Hailey Reed

Honors Theses

This investigation studies the interactions between various nitroaromatic high energy density materials (HEDMs) and a pair of silver atoms (Ag2). Additionally, we examine the changes in frequency, infrared (IR) intensities, and Raman activities induced by the Ag2 unit as the complexes form. Full geometry optimizations of the isolated HEDM molecules as well as complexes where Ag2 is bound to various argyrophillic sites of these compounds have been carried out along with the corresponding harmonic vibrational frequency computations using the M06-2X density functional with a correlation consistent triple-ζ basis set augmented with diffuse functions on all atoms and a relativistic pseudopotential …

Ecological Resilience Indicators For Salt Marsh Ecosystems, Scott T. Allen, Camille L. Stagg, Jorge Brenner, Kathleen L. Goodin, Don Faber-Langendoen, Christopher A. Gabler, Katherine Wirt Ames

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Salt marshes are coastal ecosystems within the intertidal zone, characterized by hypoxic, saline, soil conditions and low biodiversity. Low diversity arises from frequent disturbance and stressful conditions (i.e., high salinity and hypoxia), where vegetative reproduction and low competition result in mostly monotypic stands, with some differences in plant community influenced by flooding regime (described below). While there are several types of salt marshes in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM), ranging from low to high salt marshes and salt flats (Tiner, 2013), Spartina alterniflora–dominated salt marshes in the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Low and Intermediate Salt Marsh …

Quantitative Forecasting Of Risk For Ptsd Using Ecological Factors: A Deep Learning Application, Nuriel S. Mor, Kathryn L. Dardeck

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Forecasting the risk for mental disorders from early ecological information holds benefits for the individual and society. Computational models used in psychological research, however, are barriers to making such predictions at the individual level. Preexposure identification of future soldiers at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other individuals, such as humanitarian aid workers and journalists intending to be potentially exposed to traumatic events, is important for guiding decisions about exposure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a machine learning approach to identify individuals at risk for PTSD using readily collected ecological risk factors, which makes scanning …

A Practical And Efficient Algorithm For The K-Mismatch Shortest Unique Substring Finding Problem, Daniel Robert Allen

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This thesis revisits the k-mismatch shortest unique substring (SUS) finding problem and demonstrates that a technique recently presented in the context of solving the k-mismatch average common substring problem can be adapted and combined with parts of the existing solution, resulting in a new algorithm which has expected time complexity of O(n log^k n), while maintaining a practical space complexity at O(kn), where n is the string length. When k > 0, which is the hard case, the new proposal significantly improves the any-case O(n²) time complexity of the prior best method for k-mismatch SUS finding. Experimental study …

Gpu Accelerated Risk Quantification, Forrest L. Ireland

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) is a standard model for quantitatively estimating cybersecurity risks and has been implemented as a sequential Monte Carlo simulation in the RiskLens and FAIR-U applications. Monte Carlo simulations employ random sampling techniques to model certain systems through the course of many iterations. Due to their sequential nature, FAIR simulations in these applications are limited in the number of iterations they can perform in a reasonable amount of time. One method that has been extensively used to speed up Monte Carlo simulations is to implement them to take advantage of the massive parallelization available when …

Representing Wilderness In The Shaping Of America's National Parks: Aesthetics, Boundaries, And Cultures In The Works Of James Fenimore Cooper, John Muir, And Their Artistic Contemporaries, Alana Jajko

Master’s Theses

This project studies the works of James Fenimore Cooper, John Muir, and their artistic contemporaries in relation to the shaping of America’s national parks and what it means for the parks and their attending wilderness to be symbolic of the nation. It seeks to reveal the national parks as artistic representations of a constructed wilderness, while also emphasizing the physical experience of the natural world as a means of supplementing our subjective views. Through the lenses of aesthetics, boundaries, and cultures, I narrow my study to focus on three distinct perspectives by which we can understand the national parks and …

Stability Of Bimetallic Clusters In Protein Model Systems, Sean Hartnett

Master’s Theses

Heterobimetallic cofactors are commonly found in proteins and allow them to perform unique chemical processes that would otherwise not be possible. The interactions between these metals allow the protein to accomplish difficult chemical transformations. Previously, the thermodynamic stability of a Fe^II /Mn^II cluster in the dinucleating ligand F-HXTA (5-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1,3-xylene-α,α′-diamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) has been investigated in our lab as a model of cluster assembly in the proteins ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) and R2-like ligand binding oxidases (R2lox). By measuring equilibrium concentrations of F-HXTA complexes via ¹⁹F-NMR, it was found that the equilibrium for metal exchange between the homobimetallic …

Deep Learning Based Recommendation Systems, Nishanth Reddy Pinnapareddy

Master's Projects

The usage of Internet applications, such as social networking and e-commerce is increasing exponentially, which leads to an increased offered content. Recommender systems help users filter out relevant content from a large pool of available content. The recommender systems play a vital role in today’s internet applications. Collaborative Filtering (CF) is one of the popular technique used to design recommendation systems. This technique recommends new content to users based on preferences that the user and similar users have. However, there are some shortcomings to current CF techniques, which affects negatively the performance of the recommendation models. In recent years, deep …

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, January 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Inside this Issue:

--- State of the Center – January 2018: A Letter from IWRC Interim Director, Dan Nickey
--- Minor Source Emissions Inventory AssistanceIWRC Staff Update
--- IWRC Receives U.S. EPA Food Recovery Challenge Regional Award
--- IWRC Partners with Brewers Association to Host Summer Internship

Local And Global Dynamic Bifurcations Of Nonlinear Evolution Equations, Desheng Li, Zhi-Qiang Wang

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

We present new local and global dynamic bifurcation results for nonlinear evolution equations of the form ut + Au = fλ(u) on a Banach space X, where A is a sectorial operator, and λ ∈ R is the bifurcation parameter. Suppose the equation has a trivial solution branch {(0, λ) : λ ∈ R}. Denote Φλ the local semiflow generated by the initial value problem of the equation. It is shown that if the crossing number n at a bifurcation value λ = λ0 is nonzero and moreover, S0 = {0} is an isolated invariant set of Φλ0 , then …

Construction Of Supramolecular And Coordination Compounds From Pyridyl Bis-Urea Macrocycles, Bozumeh Som

Theses and Dissertations

The self-assembly of macrocyclic molecules in solution and in the solid state modulates and in many cases enhances their properties for applications in sensing, catalysis and optoelectronics. The self-assembled structures are typically organized by non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking and dipole-dipole interactions. Our group has focused on the design and synthesis of bis-urea macrocycles that can self-assemble into solid cylinders or tubular structures affording crystalline materials. These macrocycles consist of two urea groups and two rigid C-shaped spacers. Easy functionalization of this system enables access to bis-urea macrocycle structures that could serve as molecular reactors, coordinating ligands …

Isoscalar Ππ; Kk; Ηη Scattering And The Σ; F0; F2 Mesons From Qcd, Raul A. Briceño, Jozef J. Dudek, Robert G. Edwards, David J. Wilson

Physics Faculty Publications

We present the first lattice QCD study of coupled isoscalar ππ;K ¯K; ηη S- and D-wave scattering extracted from discrete finite-volume spectra computed on lattices which have a value of the light quark mass corresponding to m_π ∼ 391 MeV. In the J^P = 0⁺ sector we find analogues of the experimental σ and f₀ (980) states, where the σ appears as a stable bound-state below ππ threshold, and, similar to what is seen in experiment, the f₀ (980) manifests itself as a dip in the ππ cross section in the vicinity of the …

Energy Slices: Benchmarking With Time Slicing, Katarina Grolinger, Hany F. Elyamany, Wilson Higashino, Miriam Am Capretz, Luke Seewald

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Benchmarking makes it possible to identify low-performing buildings, establishes a baseline for measuring performance improvements, enables setting of energy conservation targets, and encourages energy savings by creating a competitive environment. Statistical approaches evaluate building energy efficiency by comparing measured energy consumption to other similar buildings typically using annual measurements. However, it is important to consider different time periods in benchmarking because of differences in their consumption patterns. For example, an office can be efficient during the night, but inefficient during operating hours due to occupants’ wasteful behavior. Moreover, benchmarking studies often use a single regression model for different building categories. …

Trace Metal And Metalloid Behavior In The Submicron Scale Components Of Coal Fly Ashes: Insights From Combined Microscopic And Microbiological Studies, Matthew Costa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

For over a century, coal has been used worldwide to meet ever-growing energy demands. Coal combustion accounts for over 30% of electricity generation in the United States. In the U.S., coal combustion produces annually over 100 million tons of coal combustion products (CCPs) of which only 30% are used in beneficial and economic ways. One of the primary CCPs from coal-burning power plants is fly ash, typically fine-sized and enriched in many trace elements (e.g., arsenic, chromium, lead, and vanadium). When disposed in the environment, fly ash may release significant concentrations of trace elements into surrounding ecosystems and induce toxicity …

The Hierarchical Structure Of Nanoporous Carbon Electrode Materials Elucidated By Water Sorption: A Comparison Of Multiple Structural Models, Jose Ali Espitia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The total amount of energy that an electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) can store depends on the voltage and the accessible surface area for ion electrosorption. Nanoporous carbon materials with a high specific surface area, such as carbide derived carbon (CDC), make ideal electrodes for EDLC devices. CDC materials have fine-tuned pore sizes in the subnanometer range which are controlled by the initial carbide (TiC) and annealing conditions. Water can enter TiC-CDC pores and give filling fractions in excess of 0.6 g/g (H2O/C). Recent reports of water's diffusional dynamics dependence on CDC pore size indicate confinement effects similar to that …

Environmental And Genetic Factors Affecting Antibiotic Resistance Of Extended Spectrum Î?-Lactamase Bacteria From The Rio Grande River In El Paso, Tx And Cd. Juarez, Mexico, Maria D. Fuentes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The Rio Grande River provides a major source of potable and agricultural water for the population of the Texas/Mexico border region. Cattle farming and ranching are the most prevalent activities, which may contribute to the microbial burden of pharmaceuticals into our state's water resources. Antibiotics, presumably released into the environment by discharges originating from waste-water treatment plants, septic disposal systems, animal feeding operations and urban runoff have a definite impact on the ecosystem and may contribute to an increase in antibiotic resistance. We hypothesized that waters of the Rio Grande River contained Multi Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) and mobile …

Gravitational Waves Research At Toros Utrgv, Pamela Ivonne Lara

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The detection of gravitational waves (GW) has directly opened a new era in the observation of cosmic events. One hundred years after its theoretical prediction we find ourselves immerged in the multi-messenger study of the signals at the root of gravitational wave detection. The electromagnetic (EM) counterpart to GW is the optical portion of that signal and the main objective in the organization of TOROS Collaboration: finding and studying kilonovas, the name given by Metzger (Metzger et al, 2010), to the EM counterpart to gravitational waves.

In order for TOROS to find kilonovas, it needed to create a python language …

Assessing The Hydrologic Impacts Of Extreme Rainfall And Land Use Change On A Semiarid Watershed, Tahneen Jahan Neelam

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Abstract: Intense precipitation events increase the risk of flash floods in the New Mexico-Texas-Mexico border region. Compounding effects of changing land use and precipitation pattern can influence rainfall-runoff processes that govern flash flooding. Paradoxically, this southwestern semiarid watershed has substantial water conflict that may get worse by 2025 due to changing climate and increasingly competitive demands for over-appropriated water resources. Using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), we investigate the impact of changes in precipitation intensity and land use on runoff and arroyo flows in the dry, mountainous terrains. The baseline watershed simulation model shows that for a statistically insignificant …

Synthesis And Application Of Photoreactive Collagen Peptides, And Antiparasitic Agents, Alfredo Ornelas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the introduction of solid phase peptide synThesis in 1963, peptides and post-translationally modified peptides can be conveniently synthesized in the chemistry laboratory. In the past decade, there has been a remarkable increase in bioactive peptide research and the therapeutic peptide market value is expected to hit $25 billion this year. Peptides can also provide structural and biological functions and have emerged as promising novel biomaterials in tissue engineering. Here we will describe three different projects, which deal with different aspects of peptide chemistry, i.e. synthetic method development, exploration of new peptide biomaterials, and the use of cell penetrating peptides …

Making Esters Lab, Haley Watts

A with Honors Projects

Alcohols and carboxyl groups are attached to form esters. Esters are functional groups with an oxygen double bonded to a carbon as well as another oxygen attached to the same carbon. When you mix an alcohol and carboxyl group like I did in this experiment, your product is an ester and water. My goal was to make a recognizable scent by mixing an alcohol and an acid.

Electroplating Pennies Lab, Jacob W. Doehring

A with Honors Projects

This write up for a chemistry lab at Parkland College details the process of attempting to electroplate a copper penny with zinc using a current and creating a cell system and to experiment with varying voltages and currents and analyzing how these fluctuations affect the system.

Nuclear Chemistry Lab: Creating A Cloud Chamger To Detect Background Radiation, Tori R. Witruck

A with Honors Projects

This write-up for a chemistry lab at Parkland College details the student's experiences using a cloud chamber kit, a tool used to visualize detection of ionizing radiation. The write-up proposes a design for a larger scale cloud chamber to allow for a more accurate representation.

Passive Planar Terahertz Retroreflectors, Dhruvkumar Desai

Theses

As the application of the Terahertz (THz) band (0.1 - 10 THz) is investigated in various settings, wireless communication stands out as an important frontier to explore. The benefits of increased bandwidth and data rates it promises will only be realized if new technology is developed to support it. Specifically, since THz wireless communication links are typically line-of-sight (LoS), the LoS can be blocked by moving obstacles, thereby requiring alternative link paths. One proposed solution for indoor wireless communications involves systems of steerable antennas, reflective "wallpaper", and steerable mirrors which would redirect THz beams around a blocking obstacle.

As an …

Electroplating Pennies Lab, Ben Albrecht

A with Honors Projects

The purpose of this lab is to compare methods of electroplating pennies and to decide which method works best. The student also compares the electroplating of pennies made about 10 years apart between the years of 1960-2010, and including one from 2017.

C++ Risk Simulation To Generate Ai, David Sky Nunez

A with Honors Projects

For this A with Honors project, the student set out to create a way to run thousands of simulations for the board game, RISK, supplying information for the game player to be able to make more strategic decisions when playing the game.

Blockchain: A New Type Of Database, Brent Marshall

A with Honors Projects

The blockchain is a new technology that seems to have people all over the world talking about it. But what is it? And what can it do? This paper will explore both the current uses of block chain technology and its potential uses. We will begin with definitions, followed by the history and uses of blockchains.

Cyber Security And Risk Society: Estonian Discourse On Cyber Risk And Security Strategy, Lauren Kook

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

The main aim of this thesis is to call for a new analysis of cyber security which departs from the traditional security theory. I argue that the cyber domain is inherently different in nature, in that it is lacking in traditional boundaries and is reflexive in nature. Policy-makers are aware of these characteristics, and in turn this awareness changes the way that national cyber security strategy is handled and understood. These changes cannot be adequately understood through traditional understanding of security, as they often are, without missing significant details. Rather, examining these changes through the lens of Ulrich Beck’s risk …