Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Semantic Linguistic User Profiles For Automatic Computational Narrative Creation For Scientific Models, Angel Uriel Ortega Castillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The outcomes of scientific models can be hard to understand given the need for context, domain knowledge, and many variables and data being used. This research aims to provide users of scientific models with understandable information that can be automatically generated. For the context of this research, understandable is defined as being correctly interpreted (i.e., with respect to the original intent of the data). Scientific information can be conveyed to users in the form of a narrative or visualizations, and these are not necessarily separate from each other, but rather complimentary. One of the objectives of this research is to …

Random Forest For High-Dimensional Data, George Ekow Quaye

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The exponential growth of data has led to a rapid increase in high-dimensional datasets across various domains, presenting significant challenges in data analysis, particularly in predictive modeling tasks. Traditional Random Forest (RF), while robust, often struggles with datasets filled with numerous noisy or non-informative features, compromising both performance and accuracy. This study introduces an advanced algorithm, High-Dimensional Random Forests (HDRF), designed to address these challenges by integrating robust multivariate feature selection techniques directly into the decision tree construction process. Unlike standard RF, HDRF incorporates ridge regression-based variable screening at each decision split, enhancing its ability to identify and utilize the …

Quantum Circuit Optimization Leveraging Multi-Qubit Exchange Interactions In Spin Qubits, Miguel Gonzalo Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis looks into how multi-qubit exchange interactions can be used to improve quantumcircuits in semiconductor quantum devices. Pairwise interactions between qubits are a common tenet of traditional quantum computing paradigms, although they can impose complexity and depth constraints on circuits. In order to improve the efficiency and scalability of quantum circuits, this research explores the theoretical underpinnings and practical uses of multi-qubit interactions. A thorough theoretical framework is formulated, outlining the mathematical equivalence of a unitary matrix representing interactions between multiple qubits. We obtain the timeevolution operator by analyzing the Hamiltonian of three spin-1/2 particles. A number of quantum …

Seismic Imaging Of Mcmurdo Ice Shelf Near Williams Airfield, Yeshey Seldon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Seismic exploration has played a crucial role in understanding the Earth's interior and has been successfully employed in various regions, including Antarctica. This research focuses on analyzing a 1000-m seismic line on McMurdo Ice Shelf near Williams Airfield, as part of the Thwaites Interdisciplinary Margin Evolution (TIME) project. The McMurdo Ice Shelf, covering an expansive area within the Ross Ice Shelf, has undergone significant changes due to evolving oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The presence of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) has recently impacted the ice shelf, with warmer ocean waters causing basal melting and changes in wind patterns affecting ice flow …

Effortless Mindfulness Toolkit: Easy Meditation Scripts To Begin Each Class., Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

The Effortless Mindfulness in the Classroom Toolkit is an open educational resource designed to create happier classrooms, boost student engagement, and foster a sense of community through brief, effective mindfulness exercises. This comprehensive toolkit provides educators with everything they need to seamlessly integrate mindfulness practices into their teaching routines, regardless of prior experience. The toolkit includes introductory slides, 15 ready-to-use meditation scripts, and accompanying audio recordings, covering a variety of mindfulness techniques such as focused breathing, body scans, and loving-kindness meditations. Each meditation is paired with a reflective prompt to deepen student engagement and reinforce the benefits of mindfulness. Additionally, …

Cohen-Macaulay Type Of Open Neighborhood Ideals Of Unmixed Trees, Jounglag Lim

All Theses

Given a tree T and a field k, we define the open neighborhood ideal N(T) of T in k[V] to be the ideal generated by the open neighborhoods of all vertices in the graph. If T is unmixed with respect to the total domination problem, then it is known that N(T) is Cohen-Macaulay. Our goal is to compute the (Cohen-Macaulay) type of k[V]/N(T) using graph theoretical properties of T. We achieve this by using homological algebra and properties of monomial ideals. Along the way, we also provide a different characterization of unmixed trees and a generalization of the total dominating …

Capillary Phenomena In Flow Down Fibers: Beads, Bridges, Sheets, And Threads, Chase Tyler Gabbard

All Dissertations

Capillary phenomena are ubiquitous in everyday life with surface tension responsible for shaping liquids and deforming slender structures on length scales smaller than the capillary length, as seen in the formation of drops from a leaky faucet and in the coalescence of wet hair, respectively. Recently, thin film flow down fibers have received significant attention for their ability to produce bead-on-fiber patterns with associated high surface area-to-volume ratios that optimize retention times in heat and mass transfer applications. The presence of a base flow gives rise to complex dynamics including absolute and convective instabilities. The parallelization of these processes through …

Unraveling Wetland Ecology: The Effect Of Abiotic Heterogeneity And Habitat Size On Wetland Plant Diversity In The Piedmont, Gregory T. Gilmore

All Theses

Ecosystems around the world are seeing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. However, to better prevent this decline we cannot only understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, but also the factors that support diversity. Traditional ecological hypotheses such as the Habitat Heterogeneity Hypothesis (HHH) and the Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) have provided frameworks for understanding biodiversity drivers. However, recent research suggests a more nuanced relationship between heterogeneity, habitat size, and diversity than previously thought. This study looks to bridge existing research gaps by examining the ecologically and conservational important habitat of wetlands. Specifically, the study focuses on the plant diversity …

High-Resolution Ion Mobility Analysis Of Isomeric Bile Acids Using Structures For Lossless Ion Manipulations (Slim) Im-Ms, Emmaleigh D. Efird

All Theses

Bile acids are an essential part of the human digestion system and play an important role in lipid absorption, bacteria movement in the small intestine, and regulation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G protein-coupled bile acid receptors (GPBAR) responsible for homeostasis. They are synthesized in the liver, stored in the gallbladder and the excess is carried on to the small intestine. Many liver and intestinal diseases are diagnosed based on bile acid metabolism pathways and the structures of those bile acids. Therefore, the bile acid structure determines the function of the molecule. Many bile acids are similar in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Zirconium (Zr) Thin Film On Si(100) Via Pulsed Laser Deposition, Zikrulloh Khuzhakulov

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of zirconium (Zr) thin films deposited on Si(100) substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The effects of two laser wavelengths (1064 nm and 532 nm), various substrate temperatures (25 °C, 300 °C, and 500 °C), and different laser fluences (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 J/cm²) on the properties of the Zr films were examined. Results indicated that smoother films were achieved with the 1064 nm wavelength, while surface roughness increased with higher fluences. Optimal crystalline films were obtained at a substrate temperature of 300 °C for both wavelengths. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), …

Evaluation Of Future Sea-Level Impacts Using A Sharp Interface Saltwater Intrusion Model, Caroline Hiott

All Theses

Saltwater intrusion is a growing problem that is being exacerbated by climate change. Saltwater intrusion is the process by which saltwater moves towards freshwater supplies driven by saltwater’s greater density compared to freshwater. Saltwater intrusion can contribute to the salinization of freshwater resources, degradation of underground storage tanks, communication systems, and pipelines, as well as lead to groundwater flooding (Ketabchi et al., 2016). Numerical modeling can be used to simulate saltwater intrusion along coastal areas. One of the more computationally efficient modeling tools is the sharp interface approach, SWI2, that is a part of the MODFLOW 2005 suite (Werner et …

Data-Driven Model Reduction Strategies For Dynamical Systems, Talha Ahmed

Doctoral Dissertations

Many physically occurring phenomena are nonlinear in nature and can be understood through dynamical systems theory which describes how the state of the particular system evolves in time. However, it is generally cumbersome to analyze these processes in depth because of the nonlinearities in the mathematical model or large sets of equations. Model reduction strategies are employed for such nonlinear processes to reduce the model dimensionality and approximate the full model dynamics. In this study, we focus on data driven model reduction strategies for various biological systems where only observable data is available and illustrate their efficacy.

Our first work …

Pion, Kaon, And Proton Production In Jet-Hadron Correlations From Pb-Pb Collisions At $\Sqrt{S_{Nn}}$=5.02 Tev Using The Alice Detector, Patrick J. Steffanic

Doctoral Dissertations

Interactions between hard probes and the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) are a rich probe of the dynamics of the QGP. In this thesis, we study the production of pions, kaons and protons from jet-hadron correlations in 0-10% and 30-50% central Pb-Pb collisions at √s_NN = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. We focus our studies on low momentum jets with 20 GeV/c < p_T^jet < 40 GeV/c using associated hadrons with 1 GeV/c < p_T^assoc. < 10 GeV/c. The yields of associate pions, kaons and protons were measured in the near-side and away-side regions of the jet-hadron correlation function, and the baryon to meson and strange to non-strange meson ratios were computed. This is the first measurement of the strange to non-strange meson ratio for hadrons associated with a jet. We find the baryon to meson ratio for associated hadrons in Pb-Pb collisions to be within uncertainty of the ratio for inclusive charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions. The strange to non-strange meson ratio for associated hadrons in Pb-Pb collisions shows strong enhancement at intermediate p_T^assoc. relative to the ratio for inclusive charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions, with a hint of enhancement over the ratio for inclusive charged hadrons in Pb-Pb collisions. We find that …

Prompt Vs Local Redeposition: Model Refinement And Experimental Design For Understanding High-Z Net Erosion In Magnetic Confinement Fusion, Davis C. Easley

Doctoral Dissertations

The economic and engineering success of magnetic confinement fusion reactors significantly depends upon the optimization of plasma facing component (PFC) design. For high-Z PFCs, the critical engineering condition is minimal net erosion (i.e. gross erosion – redeposition). Here, we present a high-Z net erosion model discriminating three primary redeposition mechanisms: prompt (geometric-driven), local (sheath-driven), and far (scrape-off-layer-driven). Using these distinctions, we show modeling for high-Z net erosion in magnetic-confinement fusion over a matrix of key plasma parameters. With Sobol’ methods we assess the sensitivity of each mechanism and show that prompt-vs-local trade-off critically explains underprediction in redeposition losses of up …

2024 August 1 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Remotely Sensed Early Warning Of Algal Blooms In An Eastern Nebraska Reservoir: A Comparison Of Temporal And Spatial Indicators, Mercy Kipenda

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) detrimentally affect human, animal, and ecosystem health. Remotely sensed early warning systems for cyanoHABs in inland lakes could contribute to more proactive water quality monitoring and help mitigate negative impacts. Advances in freely available remote sensing imagery, with finer spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions, present new opportunities for the development and comparative analysis of methods to detect sudden deterioration in lake water quality. In this thesis, I compared and tested for temporal and spatial early warning signals of cyanoHABs in field-based and remotely sensed datasets from 2019 to 2023 in Pawnee Lake in southeast Nebraska, …

Computation Of Moving Interface Flows In Biophysical Applications, Mohammad Murshed

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is concerned with the modeling, simulation, and analysis of moving interface problems involving viscous fluids and solid structures. The main computational technique employed in this work is the immersed boundary method, a widely known numerical method for fluid-structure interaction (FSI). In this technique, the fluid equations are solved in an Eulerian grid and the structure is treated as a network of Lagrangian nodes. The communication between the fluid and structure dynamics is established by the use of the Dirac delta function. Utilizing the immersed boundary method, we have studied three biophysical applications. In the first application, we computed …

Application Of Functionalized Organosilicas In Adsorption Of Nitrates, Stephen Amoako

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the critical environmental issue of elevated nitrate levels in water bodies, primarily due to excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers and improper waste disposal. It focuses on reducing nitrate concentrations in polluted water to permissible levels through the effectiveness of hybrid materials in nitrate adsorption. We synthesized nine amino-functionalized adsorbents using grafting and sol-gel techniques. Batch adsorption tests confirmed the high nitrate adsorption capacities of these adsorbents, with sol-gel materials showing the highest efficiency due to their abundant amino group contents. Among these, the surfactant-free, sol-gel adsorbent was the most effective, combining ease of synthesis with cost-efficiency. Our …

Effects Of Perceptions Of Forest Change And Intergroup Competition On Community-Based Conservation Behaviors, Matt Clark, Haji Masoud Hamad, Jeffrey Andrews, Vicken Hillis

Human-Environment Systems Research Center Faculty Publications and Presentations

Approximately one quarter of the earth's population directly harvests natural resources to meet their daily needs. These individuals are disproportionately required to alter their behaviors in response to increasing climatic variability and global biodiversity loss. Much of the ever-ambitious global conservation agenda relies on the voluntary uptake of conservation behaviors in such populations. Thus, it is critical to understand how such individuals perceive environmental change and use conservation practices as a tool to protect their well-being. We developed a participatory mapping activity to elicit spatially explicit perceptions of forest change and its drivers across 43 mangrove-dependent communities in Pemba, Tanzania. …

Studies Of Exotic Electronic, Optical, And Electrochemical Properties In Nanoparticle Assembly And Graphene, Jay Min Lim

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

It is well known that exotic properties and phenomena emerge as structural dimensions shrink to nanoscales. We self-assembled one-dimensional chains of gold nanoparticles in solution and quantified the growth process by monitoring the redshift of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Curiously, the redshift stopped while the chains continued to rearrange as manifested by gradual reduction in the LSPR peak. Using electromagnetic simulations, we quantitatively explained the phenomena as a rapid “addition-polymerization” followed by a sharp transition to “condensation-process.” Next, recognizing the significant electric field enhancement in the interparticle gap, a photoluminescent-active Eu³⁺ ion was used to probe Surface-Enhanced Photoluminescence …

Smart Automatic Modal Hammer Predictor-Corrector Approach For Accurate Excitation Of Dynamical Systems, Mohammad Nasr

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research introduces an innovative solution that revolutionizes the study of linear and nonlinear dynamical systems—a smart automatic modal hammer. With its affordability and intelligent capabilities, this automatic modal hammer becomes an invaluable tool for research and industry, enabling repeatable strikes with precise force control. This system's significance becomes particularly evident when studying nonlinear systems, which heavily rely on the excitation level for their dynamics. By offering a cost-effective design this proposed system proves to be robust in accelerating research on nonlinear dynamics, providing researchers with an efficient and accessible means to delve deeper into these complex systems. The proposed …

Soil Additives And Alternative Crops For Drought Defense In The Intermountain West, Tina M. Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Western U.S. looks for water optimization and conservation as agriculture is the largest water diverter, and resources are pressured by urban growth, winter snowpack instability, and drought persistence. Agricultural producers have several potential options to optimize water use with different investments associated with them. Options with varying levels of risks and known management practices include alternative crops, soil wetting agents, and crop biologicals.

An alternative crop that grew incredibly fast in popularity was industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) despite limited agronomic knowledge for best management practices. Field trials occurred (2020-2022) near Logan, UT to test a total of …

Silica Fault Mirror Development Along The Cordillera Blanca Detachment Fault, Peru, Kayla Michelle Chaudoir

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Earthquakes occur along planes of geologic weakness called faults. Thin, light-reflective surfaces on faults are called fault mirrors and often considered signatures of previous earthquakes along these faults. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range in the Peruvian Andes provides a natural laboratory to explore meter scale exposures of fault mirrors. Three naturally formed fault mirror samples were collected from the Cordillera Blanca detachment fault which runs along the edge of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Prior work on this fault reveals that it is capable of destructive earthquakes every few thousand years and is a significant earthquake hazard to the surrounding …

Invasion Potential Of Nonnative Fishes Through A Large Western Dam Into A Prized And Vulnerable Ecosystem, Barrett T. Friesen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Native river fish face threats from habitat fragmentation, water overallocation, invasive species establishment, and powerful synergies amongst these factors. In the Colorado River Basin, USA, these threats coalesce at Glen Canyon Dam (GCD), which impounds the Colorado River to create Lake Powell, a reservoir inhabited by nonnative fish species. There is widespread concern low water level in Lake Powell may allow nonnative fish to escape through the dam, adversely affecting native fish species downstream in the Grand Canyon. In this study we characterized the seasonal distribution of nonnative fishes in the vicinity of GCD and identified environmental conditions that may …

Particle-Imbalanced Weakly Interacting Quantum Droplets In One Dimension, I. A. Englezos, P. Schmelcher, S. I. Mistakidis

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We explore the formation of one-dimensional two-component quantum droplets with intercomponent particle imbalance using an ab initio many-body method. It is shown that for moderate particle imbalance each component maintains its droplet flat-top or Gaussian-type character depending on the intercomponent attraction. Importantly, large particle imbalance leads to a flat-top shape of the majority component with the minority exhibiting spatially localized configurations. The latter imprint modulations on the majority component which become more pronounced for increasing interspecies attraction. The same holds for larger mass or increasing repulsion of the minority species. Such structural transitions are also evident in the underlying two-body …

Novel Emergent Phases In A Two-Dimensional Superconductor, Simrandeep Kaur, Hemanta Kumar Kundu, Sumit Kumar, Anjana Dogra, Rajesh Narayanan, Thomas Vojta, Aveek Bid

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this letter, we report our observation of an extraordinarily rich phase diagram of a LaScO₃/SrTiO₃ heterostructure. Close to the superconducting transition temperature, the system hosts a superconducting critical point of the Infinite-randomness type characterized by an effective dynamical exponent ν z that diverges logarithmically. At lower temperatures, we find the emergence of a magnetic field-tuned metallic phase that co-exists with a quantum Griffiths phase (QGP). Our study reveals a previously unobserved phenomenon in 2D superconductors—an unanticipated suppression of the QGP below a crossover temperature in this system. This concealment is accompanied by the destruction of the …

Dispersive Shock Waves In A One-Dimensional Droplet-Bearing Environment, Sathyanarayanan Chandramouli, S. I. Mistakidis, G. C. Katsimiga, P. G. Kevrekidis

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We demonstrate the controllable generation of distinct types of dispersive shock waves emerging in a quantum droplet bearing environment with the aid of steplike initial conditions. Dispersive regularization of the ensuing hydrodynamic singularities occurs due to the competition between mean-field repulsion and attractive quantum fluctuations. This interplay delineates the dominance of defocusing (hyperbolic) and focusing (elliptic) hydrodynamic phenomena being designated by the real and the imaginary speed of sound, respectively. Specifically, the symmetries of the extended Gross-Pitaevskii model led to a three-parameter family, encompassing two densities and a relative velocity of the underlying Riemann problem utilized herein. Surprisingly, dispersive shock …

Factors Impacting Users’ Willingness To Adopt And Utilize The Metaverse In Education: A Systematic Review, Mousa Al-Kfairy, Soha Ahmed, Ashraf Khalil

All Works

Purpose: This study explores the factors influencing the adoption and acceptance of Metaverse technologies in educational settings. Despite the growing interest in immersive educational environments provided by the Metaverse, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the elements that affect user engagement and acceptance. This paper aims to bridge this gap through a systematic review of empirical studies that apply Information Systems theories such as TAM, UTAUT, TPB, and their extensions. Methods: A total of 35 empirical studies were analyzed using a methodical review approach. The research methodologies employed in these studies include surveys, structural equation modeling, and interviews, …

A Comprehensive Dataset For Arabic Word Sense Disambiguation, Sanaa Kaddoura, Reem Nassar

All Works

This data paper introduces a comprehensive dataset tailored for word sense disambiguation tasks, explicitly focusing on a hundred polysemous words frequently employed in Modern Standard Arabic. The dataset encompasses a diverse set of senses for each word, ranging from 3 to 8, resulting in 367 unique senses. Each word sense is accompanied by contextual sentences comprising ten sentence examples that feature the polysemous word in various contexts. The data collection resulted in a dataset of 3670 samples. Significantly, the dataset is in Arabic, which is known for its rich morphology, complex syntax, and extensive polysemy. The data was meticulously collected …

Tool-Sensed Object Information Effectively Supports Vision For Multisensory Grasping, Ivan Camponogara, Alessandro Farnè, Robert Volcic

All Works

Tools enable humans to extend their sensing abilities beyond the natural limits of their hands, allowing them to sense objects as if they were using their hands directly. The similarities between direct hand interactions with objects (hand-based sensing) and the ability to extend sensory information processing beyond the hand (tool-mediated sensing) entail the existence of comparable processes for integrating tool- and hand-sensed information with vision, raising the question of whether tools support vision in bimanual object manipulations. Here, we investigated participants' performance while grasping objects either held with a tool or with their hand and compared these conditions with visually …