Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Geodetic Strain Rates From Gnss In The North American-Carribean-Cocos Triple Junction In Guatemala And Implications For Seismic Hazard, Tanaya Kashyap

Masters Theses

"Geodetic velocity data are pivotal for deciphering seismic risks, providing initial constraints for crustal surface strain rates. Gaining an understanding of the 2D surface strain tensor across an entire area necessitates knowledge of the surface velocity field, yet geodetic data such as measurements from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are dispersed across the Earth’s surface. In the current scope of study, we have employed various methodologies to estimate strain rates in Guatemala, utilizing GNSS velocity data and leveraging the open-source Python tool Strain_2D. Strain_2D facilitates the computation of strain rates through diverse methods applied to the same dataset and …

The Exponential Function In Discrete Fractional Calculus Under The Delta Operator, Brayton James Link

Masters Theses

"Previously the exponential problem in discrete fractional calculus under the nabla operator was solved with the discrete Mittag--Leffler function. We now show the solution to the exponential problem in discrete fractional calculus under the delta operator, providing multiple derivations of the solution with recursion and Laplace transforms. We also share some computational and numerical results of experiments with different orders of difference to display the nature of the solution" -- Abstract, p. iii

Ontogenetically Driven Changes In The Endocranial Anatomy Of Maiasaura Peeblesorum And Its Implications For Sensory Functions, Emma Puetz

Masters Theses

"Hadrosaurids exhibited extreme morphological diversity and behavioral characteristics that can be compared with other, closely related members of Dinosauria – particularly through the study of neuroanatomy. X-ray CT generated endocrania of the Late Cretaceous saurolophine hadrosaur Maiasaura peeblesorum, known as the “good mother” dinosaur, offers a unique opportunity to compare complex ecological behaviors between non-avian dinosaurs and their modern archosaur relatives. The 3D reconstruction software ORS Dragonfly provided linear and volumetric measurements taken from the digital cranial endocast and endosseous labyrinths of three ontogenetically varied M. peeblesorum specimens from the Two Medicine Formation in Montana that were used to …

Evaluating The Impacts Of Microplastics On The Soil Biochemical Environment And Cherry Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) Productivity, Kenny Famakinwa

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Microplastics are a global contaminant with serious consequences for ecosystems and human health, yet their effects on terrestrial soil and plants are poorly understood. We conducted the systematic research to reveal the impact of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs), polypropylene (PP) MPs and Mixture of PE + PP, size (0.1 – 1 vs 2 – 3.5 mm), concentration (1% vs 5%) on soil biochemical and physiochemical of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) health. The results showed that the addition of MPs resulted in elevated soil pH, particularly at 5% concentration and size 2 – 3.5mm. There was a remarkable 30.6 – 47% …

Comparative Analysis Of Data Augmentation On Sentiment Analysis In Three Distinct Languages, Hyesu Lee

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Machine learning in natural language processing analyzes datasets to make future predictions for various filed in the real world. By training machine algorithms on the datasets of text, the model can learn patterns and structure of the text in many different languages. Then the model enables to perform the text classification, sentiment analysis, and other tasks. A large and balanced dataset is required to develop an accurate machine learning model. However, the collection of a reliable, large, and equally distributed dataset is a challenging and requires significant resources and time. As a solution to this challenge, a data augmentation technique …

Prefacio Del Número Especial Sobre La Aplicación De La Neutrosófica En Latinoamérica, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

En un mundo caracterizado por la complejidad y la incertidumbre, los marcos de pensamiento que pueden abrazar la ambigüedad y el conflicto inherente a nuestras vidas son de un valor incalculable. La neutrosófica, con su compromiso de explorar el espacio entre el verdadero y el falso, ha emergido como una perspectiva poderosa y transformadora en el ámbito académico y profesional. Este número especial de Investigación Operacional es un testimonio del creciente interés y de la aplicación de la neutrosófica en Latinoamérica, un continente diverso y vibrante que enfrenta desafíos únicos y oportunidades en el siglo XXI.

Possible Evidences For Existence Of An Aether Medium (Or Virtual Inertia/Spin Superfluid Medium), Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The presentation explores the possibility of an aether medium, also referred to as a virtual inertia/spin superfluid medium, existing to explain certain physical phenomena. While the concept of an aether has been historically rejected by mainstream physics, recent findings and interpretations offer potential justifications for its reconsideration. After discussions with several physicists, notably Robert N. Boyd, PhD and others, we are convinced that aether medium does exist, or may be called virtual inertia/spin superfluid medium.

Partial Collisions Of Unmater-Matter, Unmatter-Antimatter, And Unmatter1-Unmatter2 To Generate High Energy, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In this paper we present the possibility of partial collisions between unmatter with matter, and unmatter with antimatter, and two or more different types of unmatters colliding between themselves to create high energy. In general, the collisions between unmatter with matter, or with antimatter, or with other type of unmatter, because being partial, they release less energy than the matter-unmatter collision which is a total collision. But the unmatter may be easier to produce in laboratory than antimatter.

The Dynamic Interplay Of Opposites In Zoroastrianism, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

This exploration addresses some aspects of Zoroastrianism, examining how the ancient Persian belief system aligns with the dynamic and indeterminate principles of Fuzzy, Neutrosophic, and MultiAlist systems. Zoroastrianism, rooted in the eternal struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, exhibits parallels with Neutrosophy's acknowledgment of indeterminacy, incompleteness, and the dynamic interplay of opposites. The prophet Zarathustra's vision of a neutrosophic God challenges conventional notions of divine attributes, emphasizing a dynamic and evolving universe. Before investigating these vague areas, the concept of unclear conceptual borders is explored, emphasizing the indeterminacy and imprecision inherent in defining opposites or partially opposite concepts. …

The Convergence Of Ikigai And Design Thinking: Crafting A Purposeful Framework, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In an era where innovation is not just about solving problems but also about enhancing human experiences and fostering personal fulfillment, the convergence of Ikigai principles with Design Thinking methodology offers a promising avenue for holistic problem-solving and in-novation. This paper explores the intersection of Ikigai—a Japanese concept representing one's reason for being—and Design Thinking—a human-centered approach to innovation. We propose a conceptual framework, termed Ikigai-Driven Design (IDD), which integrates the principles of Ikigai with the stages of Design Thinking. IDD comprises five main stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, each combining elements of Ikigai and Design Thinking to …

Residual Attention Augmentation Graph Neural Network For Improved Node Classification Residual Attention Augmentation Graph Neural Network For Improved Node Classification, Muhammad Affan Abbas, Waqar Ali, Florentin Smarandache, Sultan S. Alshamrani, Muhammad Ahsan Raza, Abdullah Alshehri, Mubashir Ali

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have emerged as a powerful tool for node representation learning within graph structures. However, designing a robust GNN architecture for node classification remains a challenge. This study introduces an efficient and straightforward Residual Attention Augmentation GNN (RAA-GNN) model, which incorporates an attention mechanism with skip connections to discerningly weigh node features and overcome the over-smoothing problem of GNNs. Additionally, a novel MixUp data augmentation method was developed to improve model training. The proposed approach was rigorously evaluated on various node classification benchmarks, encompassing both social and citation networks. The proposed method outperformed state-of-the-art techniques by achieving …

Numerical Solution Of Hybrid Nanofluid And Its Stability Over Permeable Wedge Sheet With Heat Transfer Analysis, Aisha M. Alqahtani, Zeeshan, Waris Khan, Florentin Smarandache, Nidhal Becheikh, Roobaea Alroobaea, Taseer Muhammad

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The inclusion of nanoparticles has the potential to improve the thermal efficiency of the base fluid. The field of nanofluid (NF) dynamics has attracted important attention due to its extensive range of practical uses like fuel cells, solar energy, medication administration, heat transfer, microfabrication, coolant applications, and other related domains. The aim of this study is to scrutinize the impact of Lorentz force, thermal energy, joule heating, heat source and injection parameters, and Brownian and thermoporetic diffusions on the hybrid nanofluid over the moving wedge. The stability inquiry is reported for the existing work in order to confirm the stable …

A Comparison Of Adenosine Triphosphate With Other Metrics Of Microbial Biomass In A Gradient From The North Atlantic To The Chesapeake Bay, Alexander B. Bochdansky, Amber A. Beecher, Joshua R. Calderon, Alison N. Stouffer, Nyjaee N. Washington

OES Faculty Publications

A new, simplified protocol for determining particulate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels allows for the assessment of microbial biomass distribution in aquatic systems at a high temporal and spatial resolution. A comparison of ATP data with related variables, such as particulate carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll, and turbidity in pelagic samples, yielded significant and strong correlations in a gradient from the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay (sigma-t = 8) to the open North Atlantic (sigma-t = 29). Correlations varied between ATP and biomass depending on the microscopic method employed. Despite the much greater effort involved, biomass determined by microscopy correlated poorly with other …

Last Millennium Hurricane Activity Linked To Endogenous Climate Variability, Wenchang Yang, Elizabeth Wallace, Gabriel A. Vecchi, Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Julien Emile-Geay, Gregory J. Hakim, Larry W. Horowitz, Richard M. Sullivan, Robert Tardif, Peter J. Van Hengstum, Tyler S. Winkler

OES Faculty Publications

Despite increased Atlantic hurricane risk, projected trends in hurricane frequency in the warming climate are still highly uncertain, mainly due to short instrumental record that limits our understanding of hurricane activity and its relationship to climate. Here we extend the record to the last millennium using two independent estimates: a reconstruction from sedimentary paleohurricane records and a statistical model of hurricane activity using sea surface temperatures (SSTs). We find statistically significant agreement between the two estimates and the late 20th century hurricane frequency is within the range seen over the past millennium. Numerical simulations using a hurricane-permitting climate model suggest …

Integrating Climatological-Hydrodynamic Modeling And Paleohurricane Records To Assess Storm Surge Risk, Amirhosein Begmohammadi, Christine Y. Blackshaw, Ning Lin, Avantika Gori, Elizabeth Wallace, Kerry Emanuel, Jeffrey P. Donnelly

OES Faculty Publications

Sediment cores from blue holes have emerged as a promising tool for extending the record of long-term tropical cyclone (TC) activity. However, interpreting this archive is challenging because storm surge depends on many parameters including TC intensity, track, and size. In this study, we use climatological-hydrodynamic modeling to interpret paleohurricane sediment records between 1851 and 2016 and assess the storm surge risk for Long Island in The Bahamas. As the historical TC data from 1988 to 2016 is too limited to estimate the surge risk for this area, we use historical event attribution in paleorecords paired with synthetic storm modeling …

Ratification Of The Base Of The Ics Geological Time Scale: The Global Standard Stratigraphic Age (Gssa) For The Hadean Lower Boundary, Janna Halla, Nora Noffke, Humberto Reis, Stanley Awramik, Andrey Bekker, Alexander Brasier, Flávia Callefo, Adrita Choudhury, Jan-Peter Duda, Christopher Fedo, Douglas Galante, Jessica Haddock, Peter Haines, Linda Hinnov, Axel Hofmann, Martin Homann, David Huston, Simon Johnson, Linda Kah, Martin Whitehouse, Et Al.

OES Faculty Publications

The base of the ICS (International Commission on Stratigraphy) Geological Time Scale was ratified in 2022 by defining a new Global Stratigraphic Standard Age (GSSA) for the lower boundary of the Hadean Eon (formerly 4000-3600 Ma); the age of the Solar System based on the oldest solids, calcium-aluminium inclusions (CAIs), generated in the protoplanetary disk. The formal GSSA for the Hadean base is the oldest reliable, weighted mean U-corrected Pb-Pb age of 4567.30 ± 0.16 Ma obtained for CAIs in primitive meteorites Allende and Efremovka. This age is supported by the 4568-4567 Ma U-corrected Pb-Pb ages of chondrules in Northwest …

Nitrogen Fixation At The Mid-Atlantic Bight Shelfbreak And Transport Of Newly Fixed Nitrogen To The Slope Sea, C. R. Selden, M. R. Mulholland, K. E. Crider, S. Clayton, A. Macías-Tapia, P. Bernhardt, D. J. Mcgillicuddy Jr., W. G. Zhang, P. D. Chappell

OES Faculty Publications

Continental shelves contribute a large fraction of the ocean's new nitrogen (N) via N₂ fixation; yet, we know little about how physical processes at the ocean's margins shape diazotroph biogeography and activity. Here, we test the hypothesis that frontal mixing favors N₂ fixation at the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelfbreak. Using the ¹⁵N₂ bubble release method, we measured N₂ fixation rates on repeat cross-frontal transects in July 2019. N₂ fixation rates in shelf waters (median = 5.42 nmol N L⁻¹ d⁻¹) were higher than offshore (2.48 nmol N L⁻¹ d⁻¹) …

Ice-Marginal Lava Delta In Iceland Found On A Nondescript Shallow Slope: An Unexpected Record Of Ice Thickness Late In Deglacian, Audrey Putnam, Kirsten Siebach, Candice Bedford, Sarah Simpson, Elizabeth Rampe, Joseph Tamborski, Michael Thorpe

OES Faculty Publications

Volcanism increases when glaciers melt because isostatic rebound during deglaciation decreases the pressure on the mantle, which enhances decompression melting. Anthropogenic climate change is now causing ice sheets and valley glaciers to melt around the world and this deglaciation could stimulate volcanic activity and associated hazards in Iceland, Antarctica, Alaska, and Patagonia. However, current model predictions for volcanic activity associated with anthropogenic deglaciation in Iceland are poorly constrained, in part due to uncertainties in past volcanic output over time compared to ice sheet arrangements. Further work specifically characterizing glaciovolcanic and ice-marginal volcanoes in Iceland is needed to reconstruct volcanic output …

4500-Year Paleohurricane Record From The Western Gulf Of Mexico, Coastal Central Tx, Usa, Sarah B. Monica, Davin J. Wallace, Elizabeth J. Wallace, Xiaojing Du, Sylvia G. Dee, John B. Anderson

OES Faculty Publications

Texas receives the second-highest number of tropical cyclone (TC) landfalls per year in the United States. At present, long-term TC projections from climate models remain uncertain due to the short and biased nature of Atlantic TC observations. Sediment archives of past storms can help extend the observational record of TC strikes over the past few millennia. When a TC makes landfall along the central Texas coast, coastal downwelling channels and storm currents transport and deposit coarse sediment to a zone of rapid accumulation along the shelf, known as the Texas Mud Blanket (TMB). This “backwash” process results in expansive storm …

Global Subterranean Estuaries Modify Groundwater Nutrient Loading To The Ocean, Stephanie J. Wilson, Amy Moody, Tristan Mckenzie, M. Bayani Cardenas, Elco Luijendijk, Audrey H. Sawyer, Alicia Wilson, Holly A. Michael, Bochao Xu, Karen L. Knee, Hyung-Mi Cho, Yishai Weinstein, Adina Paytan, Nils Moosdorf, Chen-Tung Aurthur Chen, Melanie Beck, Cody Lopez, Dorina Murgulet, Guebuem Kim, Mathew A. Charette, Hannelore Waska, J. Severino P. Ibánhez, Gwénaëlle Chaillou, Till Oehler, Shin-Ichi Onodera, Mitsuyo Saito, Valenti Rodellas, Natasha Dimova, Daniel Montiel, Henrietta Dulai, Christina Richardson, Jinzhou Du, Eric Petermann, Xiaogang Chen, Kay L. Davis, Sebastien Lamontagne, Ryo Sugimoto, Guizhi Wang, Hailong Li, Américo I. Torres, Cansu Demir, Emily Bristol, Craig T. Connolly, James W. Mcclelland, Brenno J. Silva, Douglas Tait, Bsk Kumar, R. Viswanadham, Vvss Sarma, Emmanoel Silva-Filho, Alan Shiller, Alanna Lecher, Joseph Tamborski, Henry Bokuniewicz, Carlos Rocha, Anja Reckhardt, Michael Ernst Böttcher, Shan Jiang, Laura M. Hernández-Terrones, Suresh Babu, Beata Szmczycha, Mahmood Sadat-Noori, Felipe Niencheski, Kimberly Null, Craig Tobias, Bongkeun Song, Iris C. Anderson, Isaac R. Santos

OES Faculty Publications

Terrestrial groundwater travels through subterranean estuaries before reaching the sea. Groundwater-derived nutrients drive coastal water quality, primary production, and eutrophication. We determined how dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are transformed within subterranean estuaries and estimated submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) nutrient loads compiling > 10,000 groundwater samples from 216 sites worldwide. Nutrients exhibited complex, nonconservative behavior in subterranean estuaries. Fresh groundwater DIN and DIP are usually produced, and DON is consumed during transport. Median total SGD (saline and fresh) fluxes globally were 5.4, 2.6, and 0.18 Tmol yr⁻¹ for DIN, DON, and DIP, …

An Inconsistent Enso Response To Northern Hemisphere Stadials Over The Last Deglaciation, Ryan H. Glaubke, Matthew W. Schmidt, Jennifer E. Hertzberg, Lenzie G. Ward, Franco Marcantonio, Danielle Schimmenti, Kaustubh Thirumalai

OES Faculty Publications

The dynamics shaping the El Niño-Southern Oscillation's (ENSO) response to present and future climate change remain unclear, partly due to limited paleo-ENSO records spanning past abrupt climate events. Here, we measure Mg/Ca ratios on individual foraminifera to reconstruct east Pacific subsurface temperature variability, a proxy for ENSO variability, across the last 25,000 years, including the millennial-scale events of the last deglaciation. Combining these data with proxy system model output reveals divergent ENSO responses to Northern Hemisphere stadials: enhanced variability during Heinrich Stadial 1 (H1) and reduced variability during the Younger Dryas (YD), relative to the Holocene. H1 ENSO likely intensified …

Different Visions From Biosview: A Brief Report, Lucas N. Potter, Xavier-Lewis Palmer

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this collaborative research endeavor at the intersection of biological safety and cybersecurity for BiosView labs, the authors highlight their engagement with a diverse student cohort. The chapter delves into the motivation behind collaborations extending beyond traditional academic research environments, emphasizing inclusivity. The meticulous examination of student demographics, including gender, self-reported ethnicity, and national origin, is detailed in the methodology. A student-centric approach is central to the exploration, focusing on aligning teaching and management styles with unique student needs. The chapter elaborates on effective teaching methodologies and management practices tailored for BiosView labs. A dedicated section emphasizes the purpose of …

Widespread Crab Burrows Enhance Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems, Kai Xiao, Yuchen Wu, Feng Pan, Yingrong Huang, Hebo Peng, Meiqing Lu, Yan Zhang, Hailong Li, Yan Zheng, Chunmiao Zheng, Yan Liu, Nengwan Chen, Leilei Xiao, Guangxuan Han, Yasong Li, Pei Xin, Ruili Li, Bochao Xu, Faming Wang, Joseph J. Tamborski, Alicia M. Wilson, Daniel M. Alongi, Isaac R. Santos

OES Faculty Publications

Fiddler crabs, as coastal ecosystem engineers, play a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity and accelerating the flow of material and energy. Here we show how widespread crab burrows modify the carbon sequestration capacity of different habitats across a large climatic gradient. The process of crab burrowing results in the reallocation of sediment organic carbon and humus. Crab burrows can increase more greenhouse gases emissions compared to the sediment matrix (CO2: by 17-30%; CH4: by 49-141%). Straightforward calculations indicate that these increased emissions could offset 35-134% of sediment carbon burial in these two ecosystems. This research highlights the complex interactions between …

Removing Development Incentives In Risky Areas Promotes Climate Adaptation, Hannah Druckenmiller, Yanjun (Penny) Liao, Sophie Pesek, Margaret Walls, Shan Zhang

Economics Faculty Publications

As natural disasters grow in frequency and intensity with climate change, limiting the populations and properties in harm’s way will be key to adaptation. This study evaluates one approach to discouraging development in risky areas—eliminating public incentives for development, such as infrastructure investments, disaster assistance and federal flood insurance. Using machine learning and matching techniques, we examine the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), a set of lands where these federal incentives have been removed. We find that the policy leads to lower development densities inside designated areas, increases development in neighbouring areas, reduces flood damages and alters local demographics. Our …

Github Uncovered: Revealing The Social Fabric Of Software Development Communities, Abduljaleel Al Rubaye

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The proliferation of open-source software development platforms has given rise to various online social communities where developers can seamlessly collaborate, showcase their projects, and exchange knowledge and ideas. GitHub stands out as a preeminent platform within this ecosystem. It offers developers a space to host and disseminate their code, participate in collaborative ventures, and engage in meaningful dialogues with fellow community members. This dissertation embarks on a comprehensive exploration of various facets of software development communities on GitHub, with a specific focus on innovation diffusion, repository popularity dynamics, code quality enhancement, and user commenting behaviors. This dissertation introduces a popularity-based …

Integrating Art And Ai: Evaluating The Educational Impact Of Ai Tools In Digital Art History Learning, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study delves into the burgeoning intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and art history education, an area that has been relatively unexplored. The research focuses on how AI art generators impact learning outcomes in art history for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Ancient Art courses, covering eras from ancient Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes AI-generated artworks, reflective essays, and survey responses to assess how these generative tools influence students’ comprehension, engagement, and creative interpretation of historical artworks. The study reveals that the use of AI tools in art history not …

Artificial Illumination Of Trawl Gear Components To Reduce Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus Stenolepis) Bycatch In The U.S. West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl Fishery, Derek Jackson

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is a prohibited species for the U.S. West Coast Bottom Trawl Fishery and in the last decade, there has been a concentrated interest in the use of artificial illumination serving as a potential bycatch reduction device. Previous studies conducted off the coast of Oregon have found that the addition of green light-emitting diodes to the bridles of low-rise, cutback trawls greatly reduced the number of Pacific halibut caught. However, recent regulation changes now permit high-rise trawls, a gear configuration that fishes a very different volume of water than the previously permissible gear profile, in areas where …

Policy Recommendations For Tire Additive 6ppd And Its Derivative 6ppd-Q, Ashley E. King

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Around 3.1 billion tires are produced around the world annually1. The antioxidant additive, 6PPD (i.e., N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine) is widely employed in passenger and commercial vehicle tires at 0.4-2% by mass to impede tire degradation2. Antioxidants are intended to migrate to tire surfaces and form protective films to prevent rubber oxidation. 6PPD is designed to react with oxidant species like ozone, intentionally forming chemical transformation products that can then escape from the tire and into the environment. 6PPD-Q (i.e., 2-anilino-5-[(4-methylpentan-2-yl)amino]cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione) is one such transformation product.

After release and disbursement in the environment, 6PPD-Q is bioavailable to aquatic animals and mammals and acute …

Experimental Studies Of Neutral Particles And The Isotope Effect In The Edge Of Tokamak Plasmas, Ryan Chaban

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The H-mode plasma edge is a region of steep gradients in density and temperature known as the “pedestal” which greatly increases energy confinement. The complex links between neutral-plasma interactions and both diffusive and convective transport in the pedestal must be understood to model, predict, and achieve the high performance required for a fusion power plant. This dissertation explores the effects of different hydrogenic isotope neutral particles and plasma transport from the edge pedestal region into the Scrape-Off Layer. Current experiments typically use deuterium (H with amu=2 or D), however future fusion power plants may startup with hydrogen (H), and eventually …

Exploring Transient Execution Vulnerabilities, Side-Channel Attacks, And Defenses, Tao Zhang

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Modern microprocessors utilize branch prediction and speculative execution to enhance instruction throughput. Instead of stalling the pipeline and waiting for branch targets to be computed, the CPU consults branch predictors for a possible destination and performs speculative execution. These microarchitectural techniques improve the efficiency of instruction pipelining and out-of-order execution, enabling higher performance and better resource utilization. Despite their widespread adoption, the potential security implications of branch misprediction and transient execution have not drawn much attention until recently. Around early 2018, the discovery of Spectre attacks exposed critical vulnerabilities in CPUs, undermining both software and hardware isolation and confidentiality. These …