Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Structural Integrity And Stability Of Dna In Ionic Liquid And Near-Infrared Indolizine Squaraine Dye, Ember Yeji Suh

Honors Theses

Luminol, the most common presumptive test for blood at a crime scene, has multiple issues, such as false positive results with chemical agents, no luminescence due to “active oxygen” cleaning agents on bloodstains, and inability to penetrate textile materials. A combination of indolizine squaraine dye and ionic liquid (IL), or Dye Enhanced Textile Emission for Crime Tracking (DETECT), have shown potential to address these issues. The purpose of this study was to assess the binding mechanism of CG (1:1) and SO₃SQ dye to HSA and how the mechanism can explain the W214 fluorescence quenching effect and to determine …

A Camera Trap Study Of Scavenger Species On The University Of Mississippi Campus, Lise Larsen

Honors Theses

This is a camera trap study to understand what kind of mammalian scavenger community we have on the University of Mississippi campus and where they are most prominent. Three motion-triggered cameras were used to survey ten buildings on campus over ten weeks. A low number of individuals were caught on camera during this study. There were limitations on this study such as a low number of cameras and a short span of time. More research needs to be done to understand the scavenger community on this campus.

Cinema Trends And Viewer Preferences: An Analysis Of Movie Trends, Factors Leading To Box-Office Success, And Viewer Ratings, Brandon Crossland

Analytics Capstones

This research paper investigates the critical factors that impact the success and profitability of feature films in the entertainment industry. The study is divided into two primary parts. The first part aims to identify trends in cinema and predict box office earnings using advanced data analytics techniques. The second part examines user reviews to determine the key factors that influence film viewership. The objective is to provide valuable insights to cinema enthusiasts, film executives, and streaming platforms, helping them make informed decisions on film production and recommendations. The methods utilized include descriptive data visualizations in Excel and Python and predictive …

The Affective Landscapes Of Herbalism In New Mexico, Samantha Angelou Stroud

Geography ETDs

Herbalism, or practices which use plants for medicinal purposes, is tied to traditions in several cultures of the American Southwest, including Indigenous herbal medicine, Mexican-American curanderismo, and Western herbal traditions. Herbalism has been steadily gaining mainstream popularity since the late 1960s, alongside counterculture, holistic health, and back-to-nature movements, introducing many newcomers to the practice. This study asks: How does herbalism create and attach meaning to plants, cultures, and place in New Mexico? What are the affective landscapes produced by herbalism in New Mexico? And, to what extent do meaningful attachments manifest in ethics and actions of care? I argue that …

Photonic Sensors Based On Integrated Ring Resonators, Jaime Da Silva

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the application of integrated ring resonators to different sensing applications. The sensors proposed here rely on the principle of optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonance shifts of the resonators. Three distinct sensing applications are investigated to demonstrate the concept: a photonic seismometer, an evanescent field sensor, and a zero-drift Doppler velocimeter. These concepts can be helpful in developing lightweight, compact, and highly sensitive sensors. Successful implementation of these sensors could potentially address sensing requirements for both space and Earth-bound applications. The feasibility of this class of sensors is assessed for seismic, proximity, and vibrational measurements.

Empirical Likelihood Ratio Tests For Homogeneity Of Distributions Of Component Lifetimes From System Lifetime Data With Known System Structures, Jingjing Qu

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

In system reliability, practitioners may be interested in testing the homogeneity of the component lifetime distributions based on system lifetimes from multiple data sources for various reasons, such as identifying the component supplier that provides the most reliable components.

In the first part of the dissertation, we develop distribution-free hypothesis testing procedures for the homogeneity of the component lifetime distributions based on system lifetime data when the system structures are known. Several nonparametric testing statistics based on the empirical likelihood method are proposed for testing the homogeneity of two or more component lifetime distributions. The computational approaches to obtain the …

Visualized Algorithm Engineering On Two Graph Partitioning Problems, Zizhen Chen

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Concepts of graph theory are frequently used by computer scientists as abstractions when modeling a problem. Partitioning a graph (or a network) into smaller parts is one of the fundamental algorithmic operations that plays a key role in classifying and clustering. Since the early 1970s, graph partitioning rapidly expanded for applications in wide areas. It applies in both engineering applications, as well as research. Current technology generates massive data (“Big Data”) from business interactions and social exchanges, so high-performance algorithms of partitioning graphs are a critical need.

This dissertation presents engineering models for two graph partitioning problems arising from completely …

Landslide Forecast In Taiwan Based On Machine Learning In The Gis Field, Yi Shen

Honors Capstones

Landslides can pose a significant risk to life, property, and infrastructure in mountainous regions, and can be triggered by various factors, including intense rainfall, earthquakes, and water level changes. Machine learning is commonly used to forecast landslides, based on statistical relationships between past landslides and multiple variables to create a general forecasting model. However, these models often require large amounts of data to achieve accurate results. This project aims to use only a few variables but take advantage of both their spatial distribution and temporal trends to improve the accuracy of landslide forecasts. This approach is tested in Taiwan, a …

Mechanisim Of Plasmon-Driven Photochemical Reactions, Hamed Kookhaee

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Understanding a photocatalytic reaction condition that selectively leads to a desired product on metal surfaces is a longstanding research problem in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, using plasmon enhanced N-demethylation of methylene blue (MB) as model reaction, we show that high degree of product selectivity can be achieved by switching the mechanism from charge transfer to adsorbate electronic excitation and vice versa using surface ligands. In the presence of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surface ligand on gold nanoparticles, MB is selectively transformed to thionine at 633 nm excitation wavelength that overlaps with the electronic transition of the adsorbate. At resonant excitation …

Understanding The Impacts Of Topobathymetric Data On Storm Surge Model Predictions, Sydni Crain

Master's Theses

The topobathymetric characteristics of a region are regularly altered by natural and anthropogenic causes. This directly impacts the resulting storm surge during a hurricane. The primary goal of this research was to gain a better understanding of the impact that topography and bathymetry have on storm surge models, particularly the Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) Model. Hurricane Zeta (2020) and Hurricane Ida (2021) were chosen as case studies; therefore, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) was chosen as the study site. This research was completed by comparing ADCIRC storm surge results which were based on older, lower-resolution data with results derived from more …

Assorted Kerosene-Based Nanofluid Across A Dual-Zone Vertical Annulus With Electroosmosis, Sara I. Abdelsalam, A. M. Alsharif, Y. Abd Elmaboud, A. I. Abdellateef

Basic Science Engineering

The goal of this numerical simulation is to visualize the electroosmotic flow of immiscible fluids through a porous medium in vertical annular microtubes. The inner region (Region I) is filled with an electrically conducting hybrid nanofluid while an electrically conducting Jeffrey fluid is flowing in the second region (Region II). The chosen nanofluid is kerosene-based and the nanoparticles (Fe3O4-TiO2) are of a spherical shape. A strong zeta potential is taken into account and the electroosmotic velocity in the two layers is considered too. The annular microtubes are subjected to an external magnetic field and an electric field. The linked nonlinear …

Costs And Benefits Of Authentication Advice, Hazel Murray, David Malone

Department of Computer Science Publications

Authentication security advice is given with the goal of guiding users and organisations towards secure actions and practices. In this article, a taxonomy of 270 pieces of authentication advice is created, and a survey is conducted to gather information on the costs associated with following or enforcing the advice. Our findings indicate that security advice can be ambiguous and contradictory, with 41% of the advice collected being contradicted by another source. Additionally, users reported high levels of frustration with the advice and identified high usability costs. The study also found that end-users disagreed with each other 71% of the time …

New Methods For Core-Hole Spectroscopy Based On Coupled Cluster Theory, Megan Simons

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) is a method used to investigate atomic local structure and electronic states. Coupled cluster method is a numerical method used for describing many-body systems and electron correlation in a wavefunction. When equation-of-motion coupled cluster is used in XAS calculations, the ground state is applied to the excitation operator, which excites or ionizes the electron. This causes a large orbital relaxation error, normally ~5 eV, which leads to the need for triple excitations in order to obtain accurate results.

This dissertation introduces a coupled cluster method that uses "transition potential" reference orbitals to reduce the orbital relaxation …

Bulk Hydrogen Isotopes In Ordinary Chondrites, Michael J. Cato

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Bulk hydrogen isotopes in nominally anhydrous meteorites are a key component in our understanding of the distribution of hydrogen in our solar system, including the provenance of water on the Earth. Here, we develop a step-heated continuous-flow method to measure the bulk hydrogen isotopes in nominally anhydrous rocks and use this method to significantly increase the dataset of bulk hydrogen isotopes in ordinary chondrites, nearly doubling the number of equilibrated members. We found that as thermal alteration increases from petrologic type 3.0 to 4, there is a correlated decrease in both hydrogen content and isotope ratio, followed by no significant …

Rigorous Analysis Of Markov Processes With Applications To Quantum Information, Samuel Edwin Slezak

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

We present a rigorous analysis of the rapid convergence of techniques based on Markov chains for the simulation of thermal quantum systems. We show that a classical computing algorithm called path integral Monte Carlo is capable of simulating thermal states of transverse field Ising models above a threshold temperature by demonstrating the existence of a rapidly mixing Markov chain. We then turn to quantum computing algorithms and show that an idealized version of quantum Metropolis sampling can efficiently simulate systems that satisfy the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. In a related result, we find a class of stoquastic frustration free Hamiltonians that …

Effect Of Graphene-Based Fillers On The Properties Of Sunflower-Based Polyurethane, Vishwa Suthar

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Polyurethane market majorly depends on synthetic materials which are noxious. This stimulated an idea to replace petrochemical resources with renewable resources for polyurethane production. Keeping this in mind, this research focused on the use of sunflower oil for the preparation of polyol and its use in polyurethane composition. The reaction mechanism of epoxidation and ring-opening was approached for the conversion of sunflower oil to polyol. During the conversion of sunflower oil, unsaturated groups of sunflower oil were converted into hydroxyl groups of polyol.

Sunflower oil-based polyol was successfully blended with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) to form urethane bonds. Confirmative tests …

Development Of Bayesian Hierarchical Methods Involving Meta-Analysis, Jackson Barth

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

When conducting statistical analysis in the Bayesian paradigm, the most critical decision made by the researcher is the identification of a prior distribution for a parameter. Despite the mathematical soundness of the Bayesian approach, a wrongly specified prior can lead to biased and incorrect results. To avoid this, prior distributions should be based on real data, which are easily accessible in the "big data" era. This dissertation explores two applications of Bayesian hierarchical modelling that incorporate information obtained from a meta-analysis.

The first of these applications is in the normalization of genomics data, specifically for nanostring nCounter datasets. A meta-analysis …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Sodium Cathode Materials, He Zhou

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As sodium batteries hold great promise as a next-generation energy storage device to replace lithium batteries, the development of sodium battery materials has become increasingly urgent. The current study aims to investigate two potential sodium-ion battery cathode materials, Sodium Vanadium Phosphate, and Sodium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate, optimize the experimental procedures, conduct a systematic analysis of material properties and characterization, and ultimately determine the ideal synthesis conditions for these materials.

In the first part of the study, we focused on optimizing the synthesis of Sodium Vanadium Phosphate. By investigating various synthesis conditions, such as annealing temperature, pressure, ascorbic acid content, and material …

Approaches And Tools To Solving Complex Problems In Private Land Conservation, John T. Curnyn

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The central theme throughout my four portfolio pieces is: approaches and tools that can be used to address complex problems involving private land conservation. I consider the broader human and environmental community health to be factors in successful private land conservation. The first portfolio piece examines a number of studies of conservation easements implemented to improve water quality, as well as their utility in avoiding land use conflict. My second portfolio piece is a reflective paper on my experience conducting a stakeholder assessment for the organization OneMontana. The assessment focused on creating a shared understanding of the issues related to …

An Analysis And Examination Of Consensus Attacks In Blockchain Networks, Thomas R. Clark

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

This paper examines consensus attacks as they relate to blockchain networks. Consensus attacks are a significant threat to the security and integrity of blockchain networks, and understanding these attacks is crucial for developers and stakeholders. The primary contribution of the paper is to present blockchain and consensus attacks in a clear and accessible manner, with the aim of making these complex concepts easily understandable for a general audience. Using literature review, the paper identifies various methods to prevent consensus attacks, including multi-chain networks, proof-of-work consensus algorithms, and network auditing and monitoring. An analysis revealed that these methods for preventing consensus …

Electrochemical Properties Of Mof-Derived Nickel Compounds For High-Performance Supercapacitors And Electrocatalysts, Shiva Bhardwaj

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

There are various forms in which humans use energy in daily life. From applications that require a high energy density to long-term storage, the requirements for energy usage are diverse. Therefore, with the continuous increase in users worldwide, more practical energy-driven sources are required, allowing manufacturers to look toward emerging functional materials. An emerging class of functional porous materials referred to as metal-organic framework (MOF) has received considerable attention over the past two decades, partially because of their potential use in various applications, including gas storage, molecular separations, electrocatalyst, and energy devices. For example, metal oxide and hydroxide-based MOF materials …

Connecting Social And Ecological Systems In Small-Scale Fisheries In The Philippines, Sara Eisler Marriott

Dissertations

Nearly 50% of all marine fish capture in the Philippines is from artisanal fisheries, most of which is un- or under-reported. As in many emerging nations around the world, the Philippines cannot fully address overfishing by managing only half of the catch that comes from commercial fisheries. Marine reserves are a popular governance strategy for conservation and of growing interest for fisheries management. Many marine reserves in the Philippines, however, are not considered effective. In 2014, Rare, an international NGO, implemented a community-based management program to increase the effectiveness of the marine reserves, and while it found biomass increased, there …

Identifying Key Activity Indicators In Rats' Neuronal Data Using Lasso Regularized Logistic Regression, Avery Woods

Honors Theses

This thesis aims to identify timestamps of rats’ neuronal activity that best determine behavior using a machine learning model. Neuronal data is a complex and high-dimensional dataset, and identifying the most informative features is crucial for understanding the underlying neuronal processes. The Lasso regularization technique is employed to select the most relevant features of the data to the model’s prediction. The results of this study provide insights into the key activity indicators that are associated with specific behaviors or cognitive processes in rats, as well as the effect that stress can have on neuronal activity and behavior. Ultimately, it was …

An Analysis Of Detection Asymmetry Using Baryon Decays In Belle Ii, Matthew Mestayer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the detection asymmetry of the Belle II detector using decays of two common baryons, Λ⁰ → ��π^- and Σ⁺ → ��π⁰. A Monte Carlo simulation of both decays was used to determine the validity of signal isolation criteria. These criteria were then applied to the Belle II data, allowing for a comparison of the detection asymmetry in the data relative to the simulation. The results show a moderate detection asymmetry when using the Λ⁰ → ��π^- decay, particularly for forward-going baryons. For the Σ^{+ …}

Sunflower Oil-Based Wood Adhesive With High Mechanical Strength And Enhanced Bonding By Introducing Fillers, Arjun Chaudhari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Petroleum-based compounds are generally utilized in industries for getting higher mechanical strength for wood application, where the process of synthesis releases toxins into the environment and causes health issues.

Because of this, scientists are trying to make biobased compounds and products. In this research, sunflower polyol was used to make polyurethane (PU) resin. For the formation of polyol, an epoxidation reaction followed by a ring-opening reaction was performed. The presence of hydroxyl groups was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and hydroxyl value determination test to confirm the polyol formation. After that, hydroxyl groups of polyol were reacted with …

Optimizing Tumor Xenograft Experiments Using Bayesian Linear And Nonlinear Mixed Modelling And Reinforcement Learning, Mary Lena Bleile

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Tumor xenograft experiments are a popular tool of cancer biology research. In a typical such experiment, one implants a set of animals with an aliquot of the human tumor of interest, applies various treatments of interest, and observes the subsequent response. Efficient analysis of the data from these experiments is therefore of utmost importance. This dissertation proposes three methods for optimizing cancer treatment and data analysis in the tumor xenograft context. The first of these is applicable to tumor xenograft experiments in general, and the second two seek to optimize the combination of radiotherapy with immunotherapy in the tumor xenograft …

How To Be An Anti-Racist Educator: A Book Review Through An Educational Perspective, Maria Cristina F. Soares, Melanie Morales

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

The authors reviewed the book How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (2019) while reflecting on how Kendi’s brilliant dismantlement of racism and discrimination would help educators become conscious of how racism operates in our society, their schools, and their communities. Kendi’s book could motivate teachers to self-reflect on intrinsic feelings and misconceptions about race and culture built over time, allowing them to adopt new attitudes towards their students and school community. The authors considered the need to reevaluate systemic racism in schools as research has, for instance, found evidence of discriminatory practices towards African American boys (Gregory …

Mechanobiology As A Tool For Addressing The Genotype-To- Phenotype Problem In Microbiology, Merrill E. Asp, Minh-Tri Ho Thanh, Subarna Dutta, Jessica A. Comstock, Roy D. Welch, Alison E. Patteson

Physics - All Scholarship

The central hypothesis of the genotype–phenotype relationship is that the phenotype of a developing organism (i.e., its set of observable attributes) depends on its genome and the environment. However, as we learn more about the genetics and biochemistry of living systems, our understanding does not fully extend to the complex multiscale nature of how cells move, interact, and organize; this gap in understanding is referred to as the genotype-to-phenotype problem. The physics of soft matter sets the background on which living organisms evolved, and the cell environment is a strong determinant of cell phenotype. This inevitably leads to challenges as …

Phishing, Irda Voli

Mathematics and Computer Science Capstones

Phishing is a cybercrime that involves a hacker identifying as a real person or institution that targets people over text message, phone calls, and emails. The hacker tries to scam the target into giving up personal information. People are targeted through text messages, phone calls, and emails. More recently in 2020 when covid became a major issue, phishing started becoming more and more popular for ways to scam. The messages became more specific, and job sites became more believable. According to article “Phishing Attacks Soar 220% During COVID-19 Peak as Cybercriminal Opportunism Intensifies”, David Warburton says:

COVID-19 continues to significantly …

Ransomware, Eleanor Mancini

Mathematics and Computer Science Capstones

This paper explores ransomware and it’s effect on organizations with the intent of uncovering the ideal way for an organization to handle an attack. It begins with a short introduction of ransomware and it’s similarities and differences to traditional crimes, such as theft. Then the paper explains the two main categories of ransomware – crypto-ransomware and locker ransomware – and how most variants are derived from these categories. It includes a description of each category and the typical ways an organization would encounter it. The paper examines the emergence of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) and how it’s divide-and-conquer nature allows cybercriminals to …