Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Calibrating The Faraday Cup For Ion Beams Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy, Joseph Fogt, Nolan Miles, Megan Haeussler, Hope Weeda

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Particle accelerators are useful pieces of technology for a variety of experiments, from testing for contaminants in the water supply to testing the durability of materials exposed to radiation. In order to measure the amount of radiation being delivered by the accelerator’s beam, a Faraday cup is used. This tool can measure the amount of ions impacting a surface by measuring the current generated by the incident ions; however, they often overestimate current due to the emission of secondary electrons. This is an inherent property of the Faraday cup, but we still want an accurate measurement of the beam current. …

Identity Development And Empathy Among Pre-Health Students: A Longitudinal Study Employing Latent Class Analysis, Bergen Johnson, Gabe Deyoung, Matthew Stafford

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Pre-health students endure rigorous education to prepare for treating patients, but potentially not for every aspect of patient care. Beyond medical knowledge, successful patient interactions often include moral decision making and the possession of traits such as empathy. There is little research on early physician and nurse development, with a substantial gap at the undergraduate level. This is significant as the trend toward a decrease in empathy could begin sooner. We explore this using latent class analysis to categorize participants based upon survey response patterns regarding numerous indicators, the most dominant class indicators being religion and political views.

Classification Of Land Cover On Sand Dunes, Heleyna Tucker, Micah Sterk

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

As members of the Hope College Coastal Research Group, we have studied the mechanisms for and effects of sand transport. In particular, we have worked to model vegetation coverage in West Michigan sand dune complexes in order to better understand how sand movement and resident vegetation affect one another. We use aerial drone imagery to develop machine learning algorithms for creating ground cover classification mappings in an automated way. Our team collected drone imagery ranging from high-resolution, low-altitude photographs to high-altitude stitched and rectified orthomosaics. We developed accurate ground cover classification methods for the low-altitude imagery and then explored ways …

Organic Matter Quality Influences Aerobic And Anaerobic Respiration Rates In Peatland Soils, Rachel Shaw, Lauren Bryan, Madison Smith, Christian Lundy, Alexis Koehl, Grace Behrens, Mackenzie Dole, Madeleine O'Donnell

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

The vulnerability of peatland carbon reservoirs to decomposition in a warming climate remains a key uncertainty in Earth System Models. This will be determined in part by the "quality" of the peatland organic matter, i.e. the ease by which it is decomposed by the microbial community. We developed an index of organic matter quality based on the biochemical composition of the peat. The index uses a principal components analysis of proxies based on the carbohydrate composition, hydrolysable amino acids, C:N, pH, and nutrient availability in the peat porewater. The index was compared with measurements of aerobic and anaerobic respiration rates …

Patient-Handling Tasks And Posture Classification With Machine Learning, Haniah Kring, Annie Ngoc Tran, Elsa Brillinger, Aine Snoap, Noah Bradford

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

A 2016 survey indicated that 39% of registered nursing respondents had reported musculoskeletal injuries after two years of regularly performing patient-handling tasks. Optical marker systems (considered the gold standard) can be used in laboratory settings to explore mechanisms of injury during patient-handling tasks, but deploying inertial measuring units (IMUs) in biomechanics allows data collection in both laboratory and clinical environments. IMU-based capture systems are also preferable to optical marker systems because they avoid marker occlusion during more complicated patient-handling tasks. The aims of our study are (1) to identify machine learning models that can accurately predict patient-handling tasks performed and …

Temperature Sensitivity Of Nitrogen Mineralization In Peat From A Southwestern Michigan Bog, Madison Smith, Lauren Bryan, Rachel Shaw, Mackenzie Dole, Madeleine O'Donnell

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

In this study, we measured inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) released from peat cores from Miner Lake bog at two temperatures to analyze the impact of climate warming on the peatland nitrogen cycle. We hypothesized a higher nitrogen release in samples incubated at warmer temperatures. Furthermore, previous research indicates shallow peat decomposes faster than deeper peat. Therefore, we hypothesized faster nitrogen mineralization in shallow samples. We collected peat cores from two locations from Miner Lake Bog in Allegan County, Michigan: a plot in the center of the bog and a sedge meadow site near the edge. Two samples for each …

Cybersecurity Workforce Development In Nigeria: Transforming The Cybercrime Gangs Into Cybersecurity Specialists, Olohi Favor Anteyi

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper addresses the issue of cybercrime in Nigeria and the possibility of creating a cybersecurity workforce development program for cyber criminals to develop their skills for the cybersecurity profession, which may facilitate Nigeria’s economic development.

Effects Of Autoionizing Resonances On Wave-Packet Dynamics Studied By Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Pengju Zhang, Van Hung Hoang, Chuncheng Wang, Tran Trung Luu, Vít Svoboda, Anh-Thu Le, Hans Jakob Wörner

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We Report a Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Effect of Autoionizing Resonances in Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy. the Coherent Excitation of N₂ by ∼14.15 EV Extreme-Ultraviolet Photons Prepares a Superposition of Three Dominant Adjacent Vibrational Levels (V′=14-16) in the Valence B′ ςu+1 State, Which Are Probed by the Absorption of Two or Three Near-Infrared Photons (800 Nm). the Superposition Manifests itself as Coherent Oscillations in the Measured Photoelectron Spectra. a Quantum-Mechanical Simulation Confirms that Two Autoionizing Rydberg States Converging to the Excited a Π2u and B ςu+2 N₂+ Cores Are Accessed by the Resonant Absorption of …

For The Dissertation: A Classification Of Tensors In Ecsk Theory, Joshua James Leiter, Charles G. Torre

Physics Student Research

This dissertation presents a Petrov/Plebanski/Segre/Algebraic (PPSA) classification scheme for both the curvature and torsion tensors in Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble theory (ECSK); additionally the work includes a software package in Maple with computational and PPSA classification tools. Six different solutions are classified using the new software tools developed. We also present a new boundary term for ECSK-NMC scalar theory to ensure Dirichlet boundary conditions. New work completed includes the decomposition of an arbitrary 4th rank tensor under SO (p, q), equivalent SL (2, C) irreducible spinor decompositions of arbitrary 3rd and 4th rank tensors. We provide new proofs that the corresponding spinors are …

Mixing Regimes In A Cluster Of Seven Maar Lakes In Tropical Monsoon Asia, Milette U. Mendoza, Jaydan I. Aguilar, Karol Sophia Agape R. Padilla, Rey Donne S. Papa, Noboru Okuda

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

The 7 maar lakes of San Pablo are a cluster of small volcanic lakes on Luzon Island; Philippines. These lakes; which are heavily utilized for aquaculture and ecotourism; usually experience fish kills that coincide with the northeast monsoon (NEM). This study explores limnophysical processes; particularly mixing regimes; in the lakes in relation to prevailing monsoons. We monitored monthly vertical and seasonal profiles of water temperature; salinity; conductivity; and dissolved oxygen from October 2016 to December 2018. Three types of mixing regimes were observed among the lakes; which have similar surface areas but different depths: polymixis in the shallowest; warm monomixis …

Azomethine-Containing Moieties For Simple And Degradable Conjugated Polymers, Kimberley Bartlett

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses

Conjugated polymers have been studied for various applications such as electrochromics, organic photovoltaics, organic light-emitting diodes, thin film transistors, biosensors, and energy storage materials. They have received significant attention from many researchers because they are relatively inexpensive and possess a high degree of synthetic tailorability that enables tuning of optical, electrochemical, and physical properties. However, many state-of-the-art polymers require synthetic protocols that use multiple arduous synthetic steps, harmful chemical reagents, and produce toxic byproducts. Additionally, the synthesized polymers are not typically designed to be degradable and will accumulate during waste disposal without end-of-life management strategies. Therefore, there is a need …

Translation Of: Sur Quelque Familles Remarquables D’Hypersurfaces, C.R. Congrès Math. Liège, 1939, Pp. 30–41, By Élie Cartan., Thomas E. Cecil

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Faculty Scholarship

English title: On some remarkable families of hypersurfaces

This is an English translation of the article "Sur quelque familles remarquables d’hypersurfaces" which was originally published in C.R. Congrès Math. Liège, pp. 30–41 (1939), by Élie Cartan.

A note from Thomas E. Cecil, translator: This is an unofficial translation of the original paper which was written in French. All references should be made to the original paper.

Mathematics Subject Classification Numbers: 53B25, 53C40, 53C42

A Predator-Prey Biological Model With Combined Birth Rates, Self-Limitation And Competition Terms, Joon Hyuk Kang, Lucinda Ford

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to give sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions to a rather general type of elliptic system of the Dirichlet problem on a bounded domain Ω in Rⁿ. Also considered are the effects of perturbations on the coexistence state and uniqueness. The techniques used in this paper are super-sub solutions method, eigenvalues of operators, maximum principles, spectrum estimates, inverse function theory, and general elliptic theory. The arguments also rely on some detailed properties for the solution of logistic equations. These results yield an algebraically computable criterion for the positive …

Residential Metals Abatement Program Investigation Summary Report (Non-Residential Parcels – Indoor Dust) Emerson Elementary School, Environmental Resource Management (Erm)

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Draft Final 2023 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Park Soil Sampling Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Submittal #7 [Gold Hill Lutheran Church, Peoples Park, Sioux Park, Charlie Judd Park, Emma Park, Mandan Park, And Walkerville Park (Daly And Dunn)], Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Draft - Residential Metals Abatement Program Investigation Summary Report (Non-Residential Parcels – Indoor Dust) Emerson Elementary School, Environmental Resource Management (Erm)

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Role Of Ai In Threat Detection And Zero-Day Attacks, Kelly Morgan

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Cybercrime and attack methods have been steadily increasing since the 2019 pandemic. In the years following 2019, the number of victims and attacks per hour rapidly increased as businesses and organizations transitioned to digital environments for business continuity amidst lockdowns. In most scenarios cybercriminals continued to use conventional attack methods and known vulnerabilities that would cause minimal damage to an organization with a robust cyber security posture. However, zero-day exploits have skyrocketed across all industries with an increasingly growing technological landscape encompassing internet of things (IoT), cloud hosting, and more advanced mobile technologies. Reports by Mandiant Threat Intelligence (2022) concluded …

Designing Resilient Agents Using Grammatical Evolution, Behavior Trees, And Finite Linear Temporal Logic, Aadesh Neupane

Theses and Dissertations

Resilience is essential for long-term autonomous agents. Swarm behaviors seen in bees, ants, birds, fish, and others are interesting because they resiliently perform complex coordinated tasks like foraging, nest-selection, flocking and escaping predators without centralized control or coordination. Conventionally, mimicking swarm behaviors with robots requires researchers to study actual behaviors, derive mathematical models, and implement these models as state machines. Since the conventional approach is time-consuming and cumbersome, this dissertation uses a grammatical evolution algorithm with Behavior Trees (BTs) to evolve behaviors that are resilient to different perturbations for foraging and nest maintenance tasks. The modular, reactive, and readable properties …

Information Horizon Of Solar Active Regions, Jay R. Johnson, Simon Wing, Carson O'Ffill, Bishwa Neupane

Faculty Publications

Information theory is used to characterize the solar active region periodicities and memories from the Carrington map images 1974–2021. The active regions typically evolve and move from one map to the next. In order to track these active region structures in sequences of images, an innovative method based on information theory is developed. Image entropy provides a measure of the organization of structures in the images. The entropy can also be used as a filter to identify structures and partition the active regions, which are then registered for each image. The partitions are used to compute the mutual information and …

Glass: The Material That Defines Us, Madisyn Rex

Honors Projects

This Honors Project is an exploration of the intersections between glass science, geology, glass art, and my own personal experience with glass.

Experimental Study: Deep Learning-Based Fall Monitoring Among Older Adults With Skin-Wearable Electronics, Yongkuk Lee, Suresh Pokharel, Asra Al Muslim, Dukka Kc, Kyoung Hag Lee, Woon Hong Yeo

Michigan Tech Publications

Older adults are more vulnerable to falling due to normal changes due to aging, and their falls are a serious medical risk with high healthcare and societal costs. However, there is a lack of automatic fall detection systems for older adults. This paper reports (1) a wireless, flexible, skin-wearable electronic device for both accurate motion sensing and user comfort, and (2) a deep learning-based classification algorithm for reliable fall detection of older adults. The cost-effective skin-wearable motion monitoring device is designed and fabricated using thin copper films. It includes a six-axis motion sensor and is directly laminated on the skin …

Eben Cabs (Mobility As A Service), Asha Kumari

Manipal Research Colloquium - 2023

Manipal Research Colloquium- 2023 aims to bring students, scholars, and scientists to this forum where discussion on a diverse range of topics from various streams (Health Sciences, Technical Sciences, Basic & Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences) will be taking place.

In-Vitro Hypoglycemic Activity Of Tupistra Clarkei Flower Extract, Abhishek Byahut, Arundhati Bag, Chamma Gupta

Manipal Research Colloquium - 2023

Manipal Research Colloquium- 2023 aims to bring students, scholars, and scientists to this forum where discussion on a diverse range of topics from various streams (Health Sciences, Technical Sciences, Basic & Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences) will be taking place.

Bacteriostatic Effect On Mdr Pathogen, Using Marine Extremophilic Bacillus Sp. Via Extremophilic Gene Alteration, Kanchan Soni, Ashima Bagaria

Manipal Research Colloquium - 2023

Manipal Research Colloquium- 2023 aims to bring students, scholars, and scientists to this forum where discussion on a diverse range of topics from various streams (Health Sciences, Technical Sciences, Basic & Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences) will be taking place.

Data Analysis On Covid-19 Vaccination In India, Shashank Shekhar, Kumar Abhishek

Manipal Research Colloquium - 2023

Manipal Research Colloquium- 2023 aims to bring students, scholars, and scientists to this forum where discussion on a diverse range of topics from various streams (Health Sciences, Technical Sciences, Basic & Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences) will be taking place.

In-Vitro Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity Of Costus Speciosus, Traditionally Used To Treat Gout In Sikkim., Anmol Chettri, Abhishek Byahut, Arundhati Bag

Manipal Research Colloquium - 2023

Manipal Research Colloquium- 2023 aims to bring students, scholars, and scientists to this forum where discussion on a diverse range of topics from various streams (Health Sciences, Technical Sciences, Basic & Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences) will be taking place

A Preliminary Study Of The Efficacy Of Using A Wrist-Worn Multiparameter Sensor For The Prediction Of Cognitive Flow States In University-Level Students, Josephine Graft, William Romine, Brooklynn Watts, Noah Schroeder, Tawsik Jawad, Tanvi Banerjee

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Engagement is enhanced by the ability to access the state of flow during a task, which is described as a full immersion experience. We report two studies on the efficacy of using physiological data collected from a wearable sensor for the automated prediction of flow. Study 1 took a two-level block design where activities were nested within its participants. A total of five participants were asked to complete 12 tasks that aligned with their interests while wearing the Empatica E4 sensor. This yielded 60 total tasks across the five participants. In a second study representing daily use of the device, …

2023 April 13 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

The Linkage Between The Climate Change And The Cybercrimes, Min Kim

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

At the beginning of the new era, the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has been rapidly transforming society into a new form that has never been experienced before. While previous industrial revolutions have also contributed to societal growth through phenomenal inventions and discoveries, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to break the most conventional rule, and one that has dominated social and economic activities: physical interaction. In the near future, sitting at the office, having an in-person meeting, or going on a business trip may no longer be needed as physical barriers are destroyed by cyberspace. However, two …

Rethinking Integrated Computer Science Instruction: A Cross-Context And Expansive Approach In Elementary Classrooms, Umar Shehzad, Jody E. Clarke-Midura, Kimberly Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Mimi M. Recker

Publications

This study examines how a rural-serving school district aimed to provide elementary level computer science (CS) by offering instruction during students’ computer lab, a class taught by paraprofessional educators with limited background in computing. As part of a research practice partnership, cross-context mathematics and CS lessons were co-designed to expansively frame and highlight connections across – as opposed to integration within – the two subjects. Findings indicate that the paraprofessionals teaching the lessons generally reported positive experiences and understanding of content; however, those less comfortable with the content reported lower student interest. Further, most students who engaged with the lessons …