Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Hilbert Sequence And Its Associated Jacobi Matrix, Caleb Beckler

Honors Theses

In this project, we investigate positive definite sequences and their associated Jacobi matrices in Hilbert space. We set out to determine the Jacobi matrix associated to the Hilbert sequence by methods described in Akhiezer’s book The Classical Moment Problem. Using methods in Teschl’s book Jacobi Operators and Completely Integrable Nonlinear Lattice, we determine the essential spectrum of the corresponding Jacobi matrix.

Petrographic Observations Of Stromatolites In The Late Cambrian To Early Ordovician Knox Group, Northwest Georgia And Their Relationship To Stromatolitic Fabrics Over Geologic Time, Evan Ritchey

Honors Theses

Silica deposits are common in Proterozoic carbonate platforms and are interpreted to form early in the diagenetic history of the carbonate strata. Black early diagenetic chert deposits are often associated with evidence of ancient microbial mats, or stromatolites. Proterozoic chert nodules can contain well-preserved microfossils, because silicification occurs rapidly; however, silica deposition has changed over time and it is unclear if similar deposits exist in the Cambrian period after silica-utilizing organisms evolved. The Copper Ridge Dolomite in the Knox Group, northwest Georgia, which was deposited in the late Cambrian to early Ordovician, contains black chert nodules that follow the structure …

Modeling Surface Structures For The Capture Of Carbon Dioxide, Paige Freyre

Honors Theses

Our research utilized a modified graphene surface model to simulate capture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas based on van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. We completed an extensive review of the literature for model and experimental surfaces used to trap carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas into structures and pores with varying functional groups, pore sizes, and pore structures. We replicated the design of selected published models and compared their and our calculated binding energies. We used Scigress (Fujitsu) software with the Molecular Mechanics MM3 parameter set to perform calculations to analyze a proposed graphene surface pore lined with …

Artificial Dendritic Neuron: A Model Of Computation And Learning Algorithm, Zachary Hutchinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dendrites are root-like extensions from the neuron cell body and have long been thought to serve as the predominant input structures of neurons. Since the early twentieth century, neuroscience research has attempted to define the dendrite’s contribution to neural computation and signal integration. This body of experimental and modeling research strongly indicates that dendrites are not just input structures but are crucial to neural processing. Dendritic processing consists of both active and passive elements that utilize the spatial, electrical and connective properties of the dendritic tree.

This work presents a neuron model based around the structure and properties of dendrites. …

An Analysis Of Changes In Seasonal Dynamics And Generational Differences In The Maine Lobster Fishery, Emily Fitting

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) supports the most valuable single species fishery in the US. Lobster landings have been increasing steadily for the last three decades, but before that landings were more variable. The high value of the lobster fishery combined with the decline of other commercially important species in this region has created increasing dependence on the resource, and previous research questions the resilience of the fishery in the face of social and environmental changes.

Important lobster life history processes, including migration patterns, growth rates, and reproduction, are driven by ocean bottom temperature, which creates a strong seasonal cycle …

Internship Thesis - Happy Egg Co., Annelise Koster

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper outlines a data science internship at Happy Egg Co, a producer of free-range eggs committed to sustainable agriculture practices. The internship focused on analyzing customer data to uncover characteristics of Happy Egg Co's target market and identify potential new markets for expansion.

The internship spanned a period of 10 weeks and involved working with the company's marketing and data science teams to gain practical experience in data cleaning, analysis, and visualization. The focus was on uncovering patterns and trends in customer behavior, preferences, and demographics to inform marketing strategies.

The internship began with an introduction to Happy Egg …

Enestr¨Om-Kakeya Type Results For Complex And Quaternionic Polynomials, Matthew Gladin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The well known Eneström-Kakeya Theorem states that: for P(z)=∑_i=0ⁿ a_i zⁱ, a polynomial of degree n with real coefficients satisfying 0 ≤ a₀ ≤ a₁ ≤ ⋯≤ a_n, all zeros of P(z) lie in |z|≤1 in the complex plane. In this thesis, we will find inner and outer bounds in which the zeros of complex and quaternionic polynomials lie. We will do this by imposing restrictions on the real and imaginary parts, and on the moduli, of the complex and quaternionic coefficients. We also apply similar restrictions on complex polynomials with …

New Reports Of Smilodon And Panthera From North American Cave Sites With Reviews Of Taxonomy, Biogeography, And History, Matthew Bushell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, three new reports of large felids from the Pleistocene are presented and discussed. A single partial left dentary from Jawbone Cave represents the first confirmed presence of S. fatalis in east Tennessee and was sampled for radiocarbon dating. Wind Tunnel and Chilly Bowl Cave are among the first records of P. onca to be identified confidently from Arkansas. Chilly Bowl Cave also produced two trackways attributable to Panthera sp., one set potentially belonging to P. atrox. In addition to the description of these remains and the caves they were found in, taxonomic histories for both S. fatalis …

A Programmatic Geographic Information Systems Analysis Of Plant Hardiness Zones, Andrew Bowen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Plant Hardiness Zone Map consists of thirteen geographical zones that describe whether a plant can survive based on average annual minimal temperatures. As climate change progresses, minimum temperatures in all regions are expected to change. This work programmatically evaluates predicted future climate projection data and converts it to United States Department of Agriculture-defined hardiness zones. Through the next 80 years, hardiness zones are projected to move poleward; in effect, colder zones will lose area and warmer zones will gain area globally. Some implications include changes in crop growing degree days, which could alter crop productivity, migration and settlement of …

Staircase Arrangements Of Pillars With Distinct Heights, Andrea L. Simmons

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

We study the family A_n of sequences (a₁, a₂, ..., a_n) where 0 ≤ a_k ≤ k and nonzero entries are distinct. We show that these sequences are in bijection with the set partitions of [n + 1]. These sequences have a natural poset structure, and we analyze the maximal chains within this poset. Finally, we explore various subfamilies of A_n, including sequences whose largest entry is k and sequences missing the value k.

Mixing Measures For Trees Of Fixed Diameter, Ari Holcombe Pomerance

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

A mixing measure is the expected length of a random walk in a graph given a set of starting and stopping conditions. We determine the tree structures of order n with diameter d that minimize and maximize for a few mixing measures. We show that the maximizing tree is usually a broom graph or a double broom graph and that the minimizing tree is usually a seesaw graph or a double seesaw graph.

Uconn Baseball Batting Order Optimization, Gavin Rublewski, Gavin Rublewski

Honors Scholar Theses

Challenging conventional wisdom is at the very core of baseball analytics. Using data and statistical analysis, the sets of rules by which coaches make decisions can be justified, or possibly refuted. One of those sets of rules relates to the construction of a batting order. Through data collection, data adjustment, the construction of a baseball simulator, and the use of a Monte Carlo Simulation, I have assessed thousands of possible batting orders to determine the roster-specific strategies that lead to optimal run production for the 2023 UConn baseball team. This paper details a repeatable process in which basic player statistics …

The Quantum Computational Utility Of Symmetry-Protected Topological Order: From Near-Term Advantages To Universal Measurement-Based Quantum Computing, Austin Kevin Daniel

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Quantum computers offer new avenues to approach difficult problems by taking advantage of the strange and often nonintuitive phenomena present in quantum physics. Though many quantum algorithms are believed or known to outperform the best known classical algorithms, the fundamental mechanism granting them their power remains elusive. In measurement-based quantum computation (MBQC), two key resources have been show to enable universal and provably nonclassical quantum computations, respectively. These are symmetry-protected topological order (SPTO), a notion describing a class of quantum magnets with hidden long-range correlations in their entanglement structure, and quantum contextuality, the fact that a quantum measurement outcome inherently …

Amazon Deforestation And Its Effects On Local Climate, Andrew Baker

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Amazon has been faced with extensive deforestation beginning in the 1960’s mainly for the purpose of cattle ranching and agriculture, as well as logging and mining making up smaller but noticeable portions. This rainforest is a place rich in its biodiversity of plants and animals, and until recently it was also one of the planet’s largest natural carbon sinks. This is important to help offset anthropogenic carbon emissions that are accelerating climate change, but because of the land use changes it has been subjected to, it has become another source of carbon release. This study aims to determine what …

Analyzing The Effect Of Guided Nature Walks On Human Behavior, Jake Duffy

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Several studies have identified a gap in the understanding of what guided nature walks does for the individual person, and the extent to which guided nature walks and interpretive signs improves individual pro-environmental behavior and attitudes. This study surveyed over 300 people on their reactions to certain types of signs and the influence that those signs had on the individuals’ desire to return outdoors. Our results showed an overwhelmingly positive reaction to signs with ecological or systems-based information that could be utilized on their walk, while signs that taught an environmental or historical feature of that area were not appreciated …

Gender And Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-National Analysis On Political Representation Of Women And Subsequent State Sustainability, Erin O'Sullivan

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The literature focusing on the relationship between gender and environmental sustainability is vast. Research has focused on how gender relates to pro-sustainable behavior but fails to analyze this beyond individual action. Research has also found positive correlations between women’s representation at a state’s political level and different factors of state sustainability. However, literature has fallen short on analyzing if there is a causal effect between these factors. This study aimed to fill this gap in the literature and analyzes how the ratio of women in parliament in a state affects the state’s environmental sustainability. Although the results showed no statistically …

Regenerative Agriculture –A Pathway For Addressing Nebraska’S Water Quality And Soil Degradation Challenges, Kjersten Hyberger

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

It is important to begin this thesis by acknowledging that the State of Nebraska is on stolen Native land. Furthermore, the University of Nebraska is a land-grant university that was ultimately given 89,920 acres of Native lands for the paltry sum of $11,194. To date, the University of Nebraska has benefited from a 51:1 profit ratio on the funds raised from its 1873 land grant, raising over $500,000 in endowment principle. I humbly acknowledge that the privilege of earning my degree at UNL came through the often violent and bloody displacement of multiple tribal nations (High Country News, 2020).

Examining The Psychology And Human Behavior Of Sustainable Living: The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Climate Change Education, Samantha Nielsen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Climate change education has become increasingly important as the world faces the challenges of a rapidly changing environment. However, not all individuals have equal access to this education, and socioeconomic status has been identified as a barrier to climate change knowledge. This thesis explores the impact of socioeconomic status on climate change education through a survey-based approach, using the Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey to investigate the relationship between income and degree of education with climate change concern and community interaction. The study finds a significant correlation between higher levels of education and climate change concern, as well as greater …

Solar Energy Implementation In Rural Communities, Corie Gleason

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This thematic analysis was completed in Nebraska, as it looked at how the state’s rural communities react to solar energy projects. Due to their strong sense of social and community identity, members of rural communities are often resistant to change and may have difficulty supporting new projects such as solar farms in their communities. However, these rural communities provide the necessary space for solar farms while still being in close proximity to the users of the energy that the farms produce. This study aims to explore what factors have made past solar projects successful and the ways in which those …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Nebraska State Park Visitation, Bailey Mullins

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Covid-19 virus was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization. Since then the outdoor recreation habits of the general public have changed due to the constraints and risks of the virus. The first case of Covid-19 in Nebraska was reported in March of 2020. One of the most popular places for recreation in the state of Nebraska is to visit our state parks and recreation areas. The purpose of this research is to determine how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted visitation at Nebraska state parks and recreation areas. To do this, the Nebraska Game …

Rails To Trails Program: Neighborhood Dynamics In Lincoln, Nebraska, Emma Mccormick

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

As cities increasingly move towards creating sustainable, equitable, climate-forward communities, city planners, advocates, and policymakers have begun to focus increasingly on improving access to greenspaces. Studies around the globe have documented the importance of greenspace for multiple individual, group, and community level outcomes. Simultaneously, extant research suggests that access to greenspaces frequently reflects social inequality in urban spaces, stratifying such access by race and socioeconomic composition of neighborhoods. However, few research projects have examined potential unintended consequences, such as contemporary housing issues like gentrification, that greenspaces can create for community infrastructure here in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Studying Developer Eye Movements To Measure Cognitive Workload And Visual Effort For Expertise Assessment, Salwa D. Aljehane, Bonita Sharif, Jonathan I. Maletic

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Eye movement data provides valuable insights that help test hypotheses about a software developer’s comprehension process. The pupillary response is successfully used to assess mental processing effort and attentional focus. Relatively little is known about the impact of expertise level in cognitive effort during programming tasks. This paper presents a quantitative analysis that compares the eye movements of 207 experts and novices collected while solving program comprehension tasks. The goal is to examine changes of developers’ eye movement metrics in accordance with their expertise. The results indicate significant increase in pupil size with the novice group compared to the experts, …

Analyzing Real Life Scenarios Through Linear And Exponential Functions Using Open Pedagogy., Lili Grigorian

Open Educational Resources

This assignment is on linear and exponential growth, which is connected to real life scenarios from students’ everyday life as well as teaches them financial responsibility and awareness of economic issues. Project has five parts. In part 1, students would use digital communication ability by creating a video about the topic from the knowledge they had prior to this project. In part 2 (the Mathematical part) they will use problem-solving and inquiry learning to better understand linear and exponential growth, in part 3 students will use global learning through reading to then annotate article and watch video to then discuss …

A Satellite Imagery Approach To Estimating Migratory Flows In Guatemala Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Sarah Larimer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Being able to predict migratory flows is important in ensuring political, social, and economic stability. In the wake of violence, unrest, natural disasters, and social pressures, millions of mi- grants have fled Central America in search of a better life. However, due to the infrequent nature and high cost of census data, there is a need for a more remote and up to date approaches. Con- volutional Neural Networks offer a computer vision based approach that is cheaper and with significantly less lag. In this study, we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of different convolu- tional neural networks in predicting …

Pion Detection For The Moller Parity-Violating Electron Scattering Experiment, Michael Tristan Hurst

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The MOLLER Experiment at Jefferson Lab intends to make a precise measurement of the weak charge of the electron through parity-violating electron scattering. To achieve the level of precision required for the experiment, background rates of events other than electron-electron scattering must be known. Working with data from Monte-Carlo simulations created using a GEANT4 simulation package, I show that the combined signal from two existing detector subsystems of the MOLLER experiment allow for particle identification between electron and pion events. I worked to optimize an additional ‘Pion Exit Scintillator’ which improves the ability to distinguish particle identity at the cost …

Physics-Based Human-In-The-Loop Machine Learning Combined With Genetic Algorithm Search For Multi-Criteria Optimization: Electrochemical Co2 Reduction Reaction, Naohiro Fujinuma, Samuel Lofland

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Machine learning (ML) can be a powerful tool to expedite materials research, but the deployment for experimental research is often hindered by data scarcity and model uncertainty. An human-in-the-loop procedure to tailor the implementation of ML for multicriteria optimization is described. The effectiveness of this procedure in the development of a nafion-based membrane electrode assembly for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) into CO for two targets is demonstrated: energy efficiency (EE) and partial current density for CO2RR (). Model-agnostic nonlinear correlation analyses identify the 11 features relevant to those targets. The three studied decision tree-based ML models yield similar cross-validation …

Extending The Lifetime Of Optically Stimulated Dosimeters For Use In Output Checks At Iroc- Houston, Hayden Scott

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Purpose: Optically Stimulated Luminescent Dosimeters (OSLDs) are a prominent form of in-vivo dosimeter used both in clinics as well as for the audits of radiological
equipment at the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC)-Houston. These
dosimeters have a recommended dose limit of 10 Gy due to a change in signal response with dose. To assist with the OSLD operation at IROC-Houston, evaluating the signal response of these dosimeters with IROC’s methodologies offers the potential to extend the dose limit past 10 Gy, improve the efficiency of handling OSLDs, and reduce the cost and time spent on commissioning OSLDs.
Methods: The …

Automating The Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning Process For Pediatric Patients With Medulloblastoma, Soleil Hernandez

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Over the past 50 years, pediatric cancer 5-year survival rates increased from 20% to 80% in high-income countries, however, these trends have not been mirrored in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). This is due in part to delayed diagnosis, higher rates of advanced disease at presentation and a growing lack of access to high quality medical personnel and technology necessary to deliver complex treatments.

The long-term goal of this study was to alleviate demanding workflows and increase global access to high-quality pediatric radiation therapy by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to automate the radiation therapy treatment planning process for pediatric patients …

Deephtlv: A Deep Learning Framework For Detecting Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus 1 Integration Sites, Johnathan Jia, Johnathan Jia

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

In the 1980s, researchers found the first human oncogenic retrovirus called human T-lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Since then, HTLV-1 has been identified as the causative agent behind several diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and a HTLV-1 associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). As part of its normal replication cycle, the genome is converted into DNA and integrated into the genome. With several hundreds to thousands of unique viral integration sites (VISs) distributed with indeterminate preference throughout the genome, detection of HTLV-1 VISs is a challenging task. Experimental studies typically use molecular biology …

Non-Destructive Imaging Of Phytosulfokine Trafficking In Plants Using Fiber-Optic Fluorescence Microscopy, Bernard Abakah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plants secrete peptide ligands and use receptor signaling to respond to stress and control development. Understanding these phenomena is key to improving plant health and productivity for food, fiber, and energy applications. Phytosulfokine (PSK), a sulfated peptide hormone, regulates plant cell division, growth, and stress tolerance via specific phytosulfokine receptors (PSKRs). This study uses fiber-optic fluorescence microscopy to elucidate trafficking of PSK in live plants. The microscope features two-color optics and an objective lens connected to a 1-m coherent imaging fiber mounted on either a conventional upright microscope body or 5-axis positioning system (X–Y–Z plus pitch and yaw). PSK and …