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Scene Understanding And Spatial Analysis Using Scene Graph Enhanced By Hall's Proxemics Zones In Smart Homes, Debaleen Das Spandan
Scene Understanding And Spatial Analysis Using Scene Graph Enhanced By Hall's Proxemics Zones In Smart Homes, Debaleen Das Spandan
MSU Graduate Theses
Voice-controlled smart assistants have received widespread popularity. It plays a pivotal role in smart homes by providing a natural and convenient interface for interacting with smart devices. However, these assistants are unable to serve persons with physical disabilities and speech impairments. Therefore, non-verbal communication methods, such as eye tracking, gesture recognition, and context awareness can complement and overcome some of these limitations to enhance user experience in smart homes. To address this issue, I am investigating non-verbal communication methods to make smart home technology more accessible and intuitive. In this research, I focus on proxemics, i.e., the study of distance …
Assessing Interatomic Potentials For Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of Soybean Oil Pyrolysis, Tanner Garrett Rust
Assessing Interatomic Potentials For Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of Soybean Oil Pyrolysis, Tanner Garrett Rust
MSU Graduate Theses
The world today relies on hydrocarbon combustion for many reasons, including its high energy density that provides ease of transportation. However, hydrocarbons sourced from fossil fuels are not expected to last forever. Biodiesel, a renewable alternative, has many attractive benefits but comes with other downsides. Biodiesel can gel in cold environments and may leave residue in an engine. Pyrolysis of biodiesel has shown promise in addressing these common detriments. Inducing pyrolysis on biodiesel feedstock (commonly soybean oil in the USA) would be an attractive option presuming it continues to produce fossil fuel analogs similar to biodiesel pyrolysis. Herein, Langevin molecular …
Geology Of The Bishop 7.5-Minute Quadrangle And Geophysical Modeling To Constrain Syndepositional Deformation Of The Black Warrior Foreland Basin, Joseph Edward Lane
Geology Of The Bishop 7.5-Minute Quadrangle And Geophysical Modeling To Constrain Syndepositional Deformation Of The Black Warrior Foreland Basin, Joseph Edward Lane
MSU Graduate Theses
The Black Warrior basin is a foreland basin formed by the Ouachita–Appalachian orogeny during the late Paleozoic Era. Mississippian strata record the transition from the carbonate platform within the Tuscumbia Limestone to the clastic-rich units within the overlying Pride Mountain Formation and Hartselle Sandstone. The western and southern-most fringes of the Black Warrior basin are covered by thin, post orogenic Cretaceous sediments of the East Gulf Coastal Plain. Geological mapping of the Bishop 7.5-Minute quadrangle revealed subtle deformation in Mississippian strata in the form of gentle folds (
Development Of Functional Plasmonic Nanoceria For The Ultrasensitive Detection Of Ebola Glycoprotein, Carissa A. Sutton
Development Of Functional Plasmonic Nanoceria For The Ultrasensitive Detection Of Ebola Glycoprotein, Carissa A. Sutton
MSU Graduate Theses
Infectious diseases have been increasing in both severity and prevalence, leading to increasing economic burdens and health concerns. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an infectious disease that is both highly communicable and highly fatal. Current detection methods for the virus have high specificity and sensitivity but have long and/or complicated procedures that do not allow for early virus detection in highly affected areas. Compared to the lengthy procedure of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR is more time-efficient; however, specificity and sensitivity are reduced. Since early detection of the virus is the only way to increase survival rates, sensitive detection …
Inorganic Chemical Reasoning Skills: An Exploratory Study Into Understanding Students’ Choices And Thought Processes, Hannah P. Thompson
Inorganic Chemical Reasoning Skills: An Exploratory Study Into Understanding Students’ Choices And Thought Processes, Hannah P. Thompson
MSU Graduate Theses
Predicting the products of reactions is a fundamental skill for practicing inorganic chemists. However, the current knowledge of the strategies that students use to solve them is limited. Presumably, instructors of inorganic chemistry courses give complete-the-reaction assessment items hoping that students will use their knowledge of inorganic concepts to solve them; but it is conceivable that a successful student could use heuristics or domain general problem-solving methods. I proposed this study to determine which strategies were used by students when solving complete-the-reaction tasks in inorganic chemistry, and also to make qualitative connections between strategy and accuracy. This was done in …
Bank Erosion Dynamics In Response To Anthropogenic Disturbances In The Cuivre River Watershed Of Missouri, Usa, Nathan Douglas Sines
Bank Erosion Dynamics In Response To Anthropogenic Disturbances In The Cuivre River Watershed Of Missouri, Usa, Nathan Douglas Sines
MSU Graduate Theses
Riverbank erosion is increasingly recognized as a pressing issue exacerbated by human activities. The Cuivre River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, located in northeast Missouri, has limited documentation on bank erosion, with the most recent study conducted in the early 1990s. This research aims to fill this gap by exploring the stream bank erosion dynamics from 1816 to 2015. The objectives are to: (i) understand the channel width dynamics for 1816 to 1994 ii) determine the sediment erosion and deposition volume along the riverbank in the period of 1994 to 2015. iii) identify the anthropogenic disturbances particularly land use …
Beach Erosion And Recovery Since Hurricane Ivan In 2004 Along A Headland-Bay Coast In Treasure Beach, Jamaica, Elandé Engelbrecht
Beach Erosion And Recovery Since Hurricane Ivan In 2004 Along A Headland-Bay Coast In Treasure Beach, Jamaica, Elandé Engelbrecht
MSU Graduate Theses
Anthropogenic climate change is causing sea-level rise and shoreline changes that threaten the environment and economy of coastal communities in Caribbean Island nations. To assess this risk, this study quantifies shoreline changes at Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth Parish on the south coast of Jamaica from 2001 to 2023. The effects of storm events on erosion were also assessed. Over 10 km of shoreline are assessed with about half being sandy pocket beaches ranging from 300 to 900 m in length, separated by rocky headlands and beach rock outcrops. Sand beach erosion trends since 2001 are assessed for seven sandy …
Mining Contamination Of Legacy Deposits On Floodplains Along Turkey Creek, Western Border Of The Ozark Highlands, Hannah Riley Eades
Mining Contamination Of Legacy Deposits On Floodplains Along Turkey Creek, Western Border Of The Ozark Highlands, Hannah Riley Eades
MSU Graduate Theses
Historical mining activities in the Tri State mining district in Southwest Missouri from 1850 to 1950 resulted in widespread metal contamination of stream sediments. Beginning in the 1840s, land disturbances associated with Euro-American settlement and agricultural expansion increased runoff and soil erosion rates resulting in the deposition of contaminated alluvium or legacy sediment on floodplains. This study assesses zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) contaminated legacy deposits in cut-bank exposures along floodplains in Turkey Creek Watershed (119 km²) which drained mining areas in Missouri. Ore production histories were used date metal contamination profiles and calculate floodplain deposition rates in legacy deposits. …
Road Extraction On Remote Sensing Imagery: Historical Mapping Of The Brazilian Amazon, Jonas Paiva Botelho Jr
Road Extraction On Remote Sensing Imagery: Historical Mapping Of The Brazilian Amazon, Jonas Paiva Botelho Jr
MSU Graduate Theses
This work proposes an artificial intelligence model based on U-Net architecture to map road networks in the Brazilian Amazon. Over the years, the Amazon region has been heavily exploited, leading to increased deforestation rates, contributing to CO2 emissions, amplifying global warming, and causing a disturbance in local fauna and flora. The expansion into the forest by illegal miners, loggers, and land grabbers can be tracked down by the construction of roads, which we can refer to as the arteries of deforestation. Previous works on the matter proposed algorithms that use high-resolution imagery to map roads precisely. However, this work approach …
Origin Of Carbonate Mud Mounds In Southwestern Missouri, Jared Mcavoy
Origin Of Carbonate Mud Mounds In Southwestern Missouri, Jared Mcavoy
MSU Graduate Theses
Small carbonate mud mounds are found in Lower Mississippian strata of southwestern Missouri. These compare favorably with larger mounds, known as Waulsortian mounds, located in the Meuse River valley of southern Belgium. The origin of Waulsortian and similar mounds is unknown, but they commonly are interpreted as accumulations of mud, where the presence of biological organisms responsible for supposed bio-construction remains uncertain. Alternative hypotheses are that these may have been non-cohesive slump or cohesive slide masses. Multiple techniques, including δ13C and δ18O isotopic analyses and unmanned aerial vehicle photography, were used to determine the most feasible working hypothesis. Determining the …
Thermochronology And Exhumation Dynamics Of Metamorphic Units In The Salmon River Suture Zone, Jonathan J. Cone
Thermochronology And Exhumation Dynamics Of Metamorphic Units In The Salmon River Suture Zone, Jonathan J. Cone
MSU Graduate Theses
The Salmon River suture zone in western Idaho records the Jurassic-Cretaceous (160-90 Ma) accretion of amalgamated volcanic arc terranes onto the North American continent. Rocks exposed at the surface record burial to depths of more than 20 kilometers, with unclear drivers for uplift and exhumation. Two competing hypotheses have been proposed to explain the transport of deep crustal rocks to the surface: (1) delamination of a dense lithospheric root resulted in rapid isostatic uplift of the crust and (2) exhumation of crustal blocks along thrust faults. To test these models, I present temperature-time (T-t) paths for mid-crustal metamorphic rocks constructed …
Gas Evolution Of A Nickel-Zinc Cell, Niklas Landgraf
Gas Evolution Of A Nickel-Zinc Cell, Niklas Landgraf
MSU Graduate Theses
Batteries are a foundational technology in some of the industries most essential to humanity. Often, their advancement to achieve better performance impacts human lives positively. There are a wide variety of battery chemistries that have been utilized, and the differences in their properties have caused them to be used in many distinct niche applications. Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) batteries are desirable because of their recyclable materials, high cell voltage, and high cycle-life. However, it experiences undesirable shape-change of its electrode materials and gas production due to the electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte. These can lead to a decrease in capacity over many …
Context Detection With Word Embedding And Emotionally Relevant Keyword Search For Smart Home Environment, Brent Anderson
Context Detection With Word Embedding And Emotionally Relevant Keyword Search For Smart Home Environment, Brent Anderson
MSU Graduate Theses
Voice-enabled virtual assistants have gained widespread popularity and are increasingly common in smart homes. To enhance customization and personalization in user experiences with these assistants, implementing a context detection feature is beneficial. This feature enables the virtual assistant to gather more information from the audio data of short voice conversations with users, helping it maintain awareness of the conversation and respond more aptly. In this thesis, I propose a novel context detection approach for virtual assistants in smart homes, named WERKS, which leverages user emotions. WERKS stands for word embedding with emotionally relevant keyword search. The WERKS approach incorporates emotion …
Investigating The Structural Properties Of Licoo2 Through Annealing In A Reducing Atmosphere And Characterization Using Raman Spectroscopy And X-Ray Diffraction, Mathew A. Boeser
Investigating The Structural Properties Of Licoo2 Through Annealing In A Reducing Atmosphere And Characterization Using Raman Spectroscopy And X-Ray Diffraction, Mathew A. Boeser
MSU Graduate Theses
The electrochemical performance of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries is strongly influenced by their structural and chemical characteristics. Annealing in a reducing atmosphere is able to modify the crystal structure of LiCoO2 by inducing oxygen vacancies, ideally enhancing its electrochemical performance. This master's thesis presents an investigation into the effects of low to mid-range annealing temperatures in a reducing atmosphere on bulk LiCoO2 powder, utilizing Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
Small Mammal Community Structure And Bait Preference In Missouri Prairie Patches, Sofia L. Orlando
Small Mammal Community Structure And Bait Preference In Missouri Prairie Patches, Sofia L. Orlando
MSU Graduate Theses
Ecological community studies provide insights on how species interact with biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. Community assembly is dynamic and often mediated by stochastic processes or deterministic properties. Establishing patterns in community composition could help to predict the suitability of a patch, which is crucial in endangered ecosystems. Small mammals are a model indicator for community change as their populations experience perplexing fluctuations. Many mechanisms have been proposed to drive small mammal species composition, but inconsistencies in past studies warrant further investigation. A previous study on prairie patches in Missouri revealed that there was an unknown catalyst for …
Computational Comparison Of Platinum, Base Metals, And Binary Intermetallic Compounds’ Efficiency In Hydrogenation Catalysis, Lauren M. Sayler
Computational Comparison Of Platinum, Base Metals, And Binary Intermetallic Compounds’ Efficiency In Hydrogenation Catalysis, Lauren M. Sayler
MSU Graduate Theses
In the petroleum industry, platinum is used as a catalyst in hydrogenation reactions during petroleum refining. Although platinum is extremely effective as a catalyst, it is expensive. This is an investigation into platinum and what characteristics make it so efficient, with the end goal of finding intermetallic compounds composed of base metals that are as effective in hydrogenation catalysis. The metals used in this investigation are Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, and W. The research performed here is computational and used to support and direct decisions made in the laboratory. The computation is first-principle, which is accomplished using Vienna Ab initio …
Experimental Determination Of Zinc, Potassium And Rubidium Diffusion Coefficients In Olivine, Christopher J. Willingham
Experimental Determination Of Zinc, Potassium And Rubidium Diffusion Coefficients In Olivine, Christopher J. Willingham
MSU Graduate Theses
One of NASA’s key strategies is to learn more about the early solar system and its formation. Chondrites were formed from the most primitive materials at the collapse of the solar system and over time have been classified into different categories based on their elemental abundance. These chondrites have fallen to Earth and have even formed entities such as asteroids and planetary bodies. It has been found through studies that one of these chondrites is close to the elemental abundance of the Sun. The other types of chondrites were up to two orders of magnitude less in concentration …
Machine Learning Strategies For Potential Development In High-Entropy Driven Nickel-Based Superalloys, Marium Mostafiz Mou
Machine Learning Strategies For Potential Development In High-Entropy Driven Nickel-Based Superalloys, Marium Mostafiz Mou
MSU Graduate Theses
In this study, I developed Deep Learning interatomic potentials to model a multi-phase and multi-component system of Ni-based Superalloys. The system has up to three major phase constituents, namely Gamma, Gamma Prime, and Transition-metal rich Carbide. I utilized invariant scalar-based and/or equivariant, tensor-based neural network (NN) approach as implemented in DEEPMD, NEQUIP/ALLEGRO codes, respectively, and Moment Tensor Potential (MTP). For the training and validation sets, I employed the ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) trajectory results and ground state DFT calculations, including the energy, force, and virial database from highly diverse compositions, temperatures, and pressures following a “High Entropy Strategy.” The Deep …
Dynamics And Timescales Of Magmatic Processes At Cerro Uturuncu, Bolivia, Sarah Jane Rasor
Dynamics And Timescales Of Magmatic Processes At Cerro Uturuncu, Bolivia, Sarah Jane Rasor
MSU Graduate Theses
Between 12-25°S latitude there is prolific volcanism fueled by the Altiplano-Puna Magmatic Body (APMB), a mid-crustal magma body above the 30° angle subduction of the Nazca plate and within 60-70 km thick South American crust. Cerro Uturuncu, a stratovolcano constructed above the center of the APMB, can provide insight to the evolution of the APMB over time. Previous research suggests that the APMB is more homogenous near its center as opposed to its edges. However, the processes that led to greater homogenization as well as the structure of the magma body below Cerro Uturuncu remain unknown. This research contributes greater …
On Covering Groups With Proper Subgroups, Collin B. Moore
On Covering Groups With Proper Subgroups, Collin B. Moore
MSU Graduate Theses
In this paper, we explore groups that can be expressed as a union of proper subgroups. Using “covering number” to denote the minimal number of proper subgroups required to cover a group, we explore the nature of groups with covering numbers 3 and 4, while also finding covering numbers for p-groups, dihedral, and generalized dihedral groups.
An Explainable Deep Learning Prediction Model For Severity Of Alzheimer's Disease From Brain Images, Godwin O. Ekuma
An Explainable Deep Learning Prediction Model For Severity Of Alzheimer's Disease From Brain Images, Godwin O. Ekuma
MSU Graduate Theses
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have become the go-to method for medical imaging classification on various imaging modalities for binary and multiclass problems. Deep CNNs extract spatial features from image data hierarchically, with deeper layers learning more relevant features for the classification application. The effectiveness of deep learning models are hampered by limited data sets, skewed class distributions, and the undesirable "black box" of neural networks, which decreases their understandability and usability in precision medicine applications. This thesis addresses the challenge of building an explainable deep learning model for a clinical application: predicting the severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD …
Impact Of Sample Conditions On Dna Phosphodiester Backbone Bi/Bii Conformational Equilibrium Dynamics, Autumn C. Pilarski
Impact Of Sample Conditions On Dna Phosphodiester Backbone Bi/Bii Conformational Equilibrium Dynamics, Autumn C. Pilarski
MSU Graduate Theses
DNA damage, such as single base lesions and mismatches, is highly prevalent within cells. If these DNA damage events are not repaired, they could lead to mutations and thus disease and cancer. Intricate repair mechanisms are in place to fix these damage events, one such being Base Excision Repair (BER) and associated enzyme: Thymine DNA Glycosylase (TDG). The first step of this repair process, recognition of the lesion by TDG, is not well understood. The following thesis presents results to better understand the fundamental biophysical question of how a DNA lesion within a mismatch context is recognized in a million …
Renewable Fuels: Molecular Dynamics Investigations Into Pyrolysis Of Methyl Linoleate, Elson Osakpolor Eguaosa
Renewable Fuels: Molecular Dynamics Investigations Into Pyrolysis Of Methyl Linoleate, Elson Osakpolor Eguaosa
MSU Graduate Theses
With the rapid depletion of the world’s supply of fossil fuels, especially petroleum products, petroleum prices have risen by approximately 800% between the 1970s and now and are projected to continue rising. It is also expected that the world’s consumption of energy will increase commensurate with its growing population. Although biodiesel is a good renewable alternative, it has its limitations including high production costs and poor low-temperature performance. We seek to improve conventional biodiesel with pyrolysis to produce low molecular-weight compounds with high energy densities. Understanding the pyrolysis path on the atomic scale is key as it will allow us …
Growth And Characterization Of Sm3hfbi5, Patrick Lambdin
Growth And Characterization Of Sm3hfbi5, Patrick Lambdin
MSU Graduate Theses
First found experimentally in 2015, topological Weyl materials are desirable compounds that have garnered much interest due to their ability to conduct electricity via their surface states even though the bulk material is a semimetal. Such a candidate, Sm3HfBi5, was discovered with a flux crystal growth method, following an extensive amount of reaction syntheses. This thesis reports on the discovery, growth, structural characterization via x-ray diffraction, and magnetization measurements on Sm3HfBi5.
The Future Of Alternative Energy? Simulating Methyl Stearate Pyrolysis Via Molecular Dynamic Processes, Sarah J. Adeoye
The Future Of Alternative Energy? Simulating Methyl Stearate Pyrolysis Via Molecular Dynamic Processes, Sarah J. Adeoye
MSU Graduate Theses
The process of extracting and refining crude oil is both expensive and environmentally hazardous. The synthesis of biodiesel sourced from vegetable oils is a renewable process and less hazardous to the environment. Therefore, we seek to understand the pyrolysis procedure at an atomic level in hopes of optimizing future fuel viability. Herein, I analyze methyl stearate (a component of biodiesel) using an in-house database of ab initio trajectories, each simulating 1.0 ps (with 1.0 fs resolution). These jobs were observed for significant bond-breaking/forming events, the type of fragments produced, and the exact position and time for each event. Statistical analysis …
Modeling Growth And Stress Factors For Converted Silvopasture Systems In The Missouri Ozarks, Bailee N. Suedmeyer
Modeling Growth And Stress Factors For Converted Silvopasture Systems In The Missouri Ozarks, Bailee N. Suedmeyer
MSU Graduate Theses
Silvopasture systems are becoming increasingly popular among sustainable agriculture ranchers, due to the increase in knowledge of benefits to the cattle and ability to grow cool season grasses beneath the canopy. This project focuses on the forest crop aspect of silvopasture systems from monitoring of the health of the trees over time to recommendations for thinning management to keep it functioning as viable silvopasture. The study site consists of five acres of upland hardwood forest area in Southern Missouri with 18 monumented fixed area plots. Arial and ground data was collected at each plot throughout the growing season, along with …
Bimee: Blockchain Based Incentive Mechanism Considering Endowment Effect, Jayanth Madupalli
Bimee: Blockchain Based Incentive Mechanism Considering Endowment Effect, Jayanth Madupalli
MSU Graduate Theses
Crowdsensing, a paradigm in modern data collection, harnesses the collective power of mobile users equipped with sensory devices to contribute valuable data based on task-specific criteria. The efficacy of crowdsensing relies on sustained engagement from proficient users over extended periods. Incentivizing long-term participation is crucial, and blockchain technology emerges as a promising framework, providing a decentralized and immutable ledger. However, existing blockchain-based incentive mechanisms for crowdsensing encounter challenges. Firstly, they often overlook users' inherent bias towards loss aversion, a psychological phenomenon where individuals prioritize avoiding losses over acquiring equivalent rewards. Secondly, fairness issues arise, especially concerning newly participating users in …
Development Of Interatomic Potential Of High Entropy Diborides With Artificial Intelligence Approach To Simulate The Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Nur Aziz Octoviawan
Development Of Interatomic Potential Of High Entropy Diborides With Artificial Intelligence Approach To Simulate The Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Nur Aziz Octoviawan
MSU Graduate Theses
The interatomic potentials designed for binary/high entropy diborides and ultra-high temperature composites (UHTC) have been developed through the implementation of deep neural network (DNN) algorithms. These algorithms employed two different approaches and corresponding codes; 1) strictly local & invariant scalar-based descriptors as implemented in the DEEPMD code and 2) equivariant tensor-based descriptors as included in the ALLEGRO code. The samples for training and validation sets of the forces, energy, and virial data were obtained from the ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, including the simulation data from the ultra-high temperature region (> 2000K). The study …
Understanding And Advancing College Students' Mathematical Reasoning Using Collaborative Argumentation, Rachel Kay Heili
Understanding And Advancing College Students' Mathematical Reasoning Using Collaborative Argumentation, Rachel Kay Heili
MSU Graduate Theses
This study explored students’ mathematical reasoning skills and offered supports to advance them through a collaborative argumentation framework in a college intermediate algebra class. The goals of this study were to make observations about student reasoning, identify specific actions to address those observations, and document student growth in reasoning as a result of those actions. An iterative analysis, mixed method study was conducted in which the researcher engaged students in responding to questions that required conceptual understandings using a collaborative argumentation framework as a tool to identify and code components of their responses—claim, evidence, and reasoning. After coding and analyzing …
Geometric Dissections, Daniel Robert Martin
Geometric Dissections, Daniel Robert Martin
MSU Graduate Theses
In the study of geometry, the notion of dissection and its mechanics are occasionally over-looked. We consider and trace the history and theorems surrounding geometric dissections in both recreational and academic mathematics. We explore the important advancements in this particular topic from antiquity through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We conclude with an exploration of the Banach-Tarski paradox