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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Ai's Ethical Frontier Jun 2024

Ai's Ethical Frontier

DePaul Magazine

Artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting every aspect of the university and society. Experts from across DePaul share their insights on artificial intelligence's advantages and pitfalls. Learn about DePaul's new Artificial Intelligence Institute and research projects that use AI for societal benefit.


Class Notes Jun 2024

Class Notes

DePaul Magazine

DePaul alumni share news about their promotions, career moves, weddings, birth announcements, other accomplishments and more with the DePaul community. John Carruthers (CMN MA '09) makes pizzas to support nonprofits. Nyabweza Itaagi (LAS MA '18) helps grow a community-owned agro-eco district with a nature trail in a former rail corridor and conversions of vacant lots into urban farms.


Depaul Digest Oct 2023

Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

College of Education Professor Jason Goulah fosters hope, happiness and global citizenship through DePaul’s Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education. Associate Journalism Professor Jill Hopke shares how to talk about climate change. News briefs from DePaul’s 10 colleges and schools: Occupational Therapy Standardized Patient Program, Financial Planning Certificate program, Business Education in Technology and Analytics Hub, Racial Justice Initiative, Teacher Quality Partnership grant, Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury collaboration, School of Music Career Closet, Sports Photojournalism course, DePaul Migration Collaborative’s Solutions Lab, Inclusive Screenwriting courses. New appointments: School of Music Dean John Milbauer, College of Education Dean Jennifer …


Link Tank Oct 2023

Link Tank

DePaul Magazine

A new JD certificate program in information technology, cybersecurity and data privacy provides DePaul University students with proficiency in both law and tech.


Designing Depaul Oct 2023

Designing Depaul

DePaul Magazine

DePaul’s comprehensive, collaborative plan creates a road map that positions the university for monumental impact.


Experiential Humanitiesx Oct 2023

Experiential Humanitiesx

DePaul Magazine

DePaul University's HumanitiesX program promotes project-based learning through innovative community collaborations.


Instrument Building For Detection Of Triplet Signal From Quinolinone Molecules, Brooke Weitzel Jun 2023

Instrument Building For Detection Of Triplet Signal From Quinolinone Molecules, Brooke Weitzel

DePaul Discoveries

Conjugated organic molecules such as the 2-quinolinone family can be used as energy-donor molecules in photocatalysis because of their light absorbing and energy transmitting qualities. Good donor molecules have triplet excited states that are useful for photocatalysis due to their long lifetimes. The goal of this research was to build a near-infrared emission spectroscopy instrument to observe a triplet signal in a set of five previously synthesized 2-quinolinone molecules. A near-infrared absorbance instrument was built successfully with accurate measurements; however, there was no detection of the desired triplet emission signal.


The Influence Of Vehicular Traffic And Land Use Typology On The Spatial Patterns And Concentrations Of Soil Lead (Pb) In The Uptown Community Area Of Chicago, Andreas 'Dre' Harris Jun 2023

The Influence Of Vehicular Traffic And Land Use Typology On The Spatial Patterns And Concentrations Of Soil Lead (Pb) In The Uptown Community Area Of Chicago, Andreas 'Dre' Harris

DePaul Discoveries

Lead (Pb) is a harmful element whose presence threatens the well-being of living organisms and their environments. There are higher concentrations and an increased risk of Pb exposure in areas that provide fewer natural pathways for Pb to accumulate into. In urban areas, the soil is one of the most common and available environmental sinks for Pb accumulation. This study examines the total soil Pb concentrations in relation to land-use types and average daily traffic volumes (cars/day) in each census tract in the Uptown Community Area of Chicago. This study provides insight into how land use and traffic volume may …


Particulate Matter Emissions From Prescribed Burns In The Chicagoland Area, Katherine Petralia Jun 2023

Particulate Matter Emissions From Prescribed Burns In The Chicagoland Area, Katherine Petralia

DePaul Discoveries

Prescribed burns are a land management tool currently used to aid in fire mitigation and promotion of plant growth of desired species and reduction of undesired species, which are often invasive species. Currently there is public stigma surrounding prescribed burns which limits their use in certain parts of the US. There are also particular challenges of conducting prescribed burns in urban and suburban areas. A better understanding of prescribed burns and their impact on atmospheric chemistry and air quality can allow for better communication with the public about their positive impacts and also acknowledge and quantify any potential drawbacks. This …


Modeling Exciton Migration In Two-Dimensional Space, Christian D. Etnyre Jun 2023

Modeling Exciton Migration In Two-Dimensional Space, Christian D. Etnyre

DePaul Discoveries

Computational analysis through density matrix quantum mechanics was performed to model exciton migration in two-dimensional space for a zinc-substituted tetraazaphthalocyanine. The model produced resembles a two-dimensional sheet of molecules. Energy transport mechanisms, controlled by point dipole couplings, were evaluated while altering the size of the crystal lattice. It was determined that energy transport was much more significant with a decreasing size of the crystal lattice. Likewise, the result of increasing the size of the crystal lattice had the effect of dampening the rate of energy transport. It was of interest to determine, with varying crystal lattice dimensions, the time that …


Calculating And Comparing Bioaccessible Lead Concentrations In Soils From The Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon, And Lakeview Community Areas Using A Pbet And A Mehlich-3 Digestion Method, Emma Sznewajs Jun 2023

Calculating And Comparing Bioaccessible Lead Concentrations In Soils From The Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon, And Lakeview Community Areas Using A Pbet And A Mehlich-3 Digestion Method, Emma Sznewajs

DePaul Discoveries

Lead exposure through soil poses potential health risks to those in areas with higher soil-Pb levels, specifically urban areas. The soil-lead concentrations recommended by the EPA are based on measurement of total lead concentration, yet only a percentage of the total lead can actually be absorbed into the body. The percentage of lead in soil that can be absorbed into the blood through ingestion is reffered to as bioaccessible lead and can be a more accurate way of measuring potential dangers of lead in soils. This study measured the amount of bioaccessible lead in the community areas of West Elsdon, …


Understanding The Effect Of Ranching On Quercus Brandegeei Recruitment In The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Xavier O. Espinoza Jun 2023

Understanding The Effect Of Ranching On Quercus Brandegeei Recruitment In The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Xavier O. Espinoza

DePaul Discoveries

In this study, we attempt to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for Quercus brandegeei’s observed lack of regeneration by identifying which animal species (wild and domesticated) most frequently were observed eating, passing by, or searching for seeds and seedlings. We established 10 paired plots (10 enclosed and 10 immediately outside enclosures) and positioned one motion-activated camera in each plot to observe animal visitations to Quercus brandegeei individuals over the course of several months (October 2019 – March 2020). No seeds and seedlings survived outside of enclosed areas at the end of the study based on their absence. Very …


Depaul Discoveries Volume 12 Cover Art, Katherine Petralia Jun 2023

Depaul Discoveries Volume 12 Cover Art, Katherine Petralia

DePaul Discoveries

No abstract provided.


An Analysis Of Lichen Presence On Quercus And Non-Quercus In Chicagoland Area, Shelby Johnson Jun 2023

An Analysis Of Lichen Presence On Quercus And Non-Quercus In Chicagoland Area, Shelby Johnson

DePaul Discoveries

Both anthropogenic change and the spread of invasive species have led to changes in urban and forest tree diversity. Oak rust, acute oak decline, and emerald ash borer have all had a detrimental effect on tree species in the Chicagoland area. Quercus species are well known habitats for lichen species including Physcia millegrana, Physcia stellaris, Punctelia rudecta, Flavoparmelia caperata, Xanthomendosa, and Candeleria concolor. Due to the decrease in the traditional Quercus habitats for lichen and the increase in nonnative and nontraditional tree species being introduced, particularly in cities, this study aimed to compare the number and diversity of …


Monitoring Personal Exposure To Air Quality Gradients While Biking On An Elevated Urban Trail, Gavin D. Salas Jun 2023

Monitoring Personal Exposure To Air Quality Gradients While Biking On An Elevated Urban Trail, Gavin D. Salas

DePaul Discoveries

Air pollution is a major global health concern, specifically as it relates to the human exposome. The EPA criteria pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and NOx can have severe impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health, particularly in populations with chronic illnesses such as asthma, those facing economic hardships and individuals who frequently spend time outdoors, such as bicyclists and runners. To understand the impact of air pollution on human health, it is essential to assess personal exposure. This study aimed to investigate personal exposure to air pollution levels while biking along …


Tech Time May 2023

Tech Time

DePaul Magazine

DePaul is embracing tech more than ever, incorporating innovative devices and approaches into education in all corners of the university. Here are seven ways DePaul provides hands-on experiences with cutting-edge tools that position students and faculty in the forefront of their industries and disciplines.


X-Ray Diffraction And Structural Analysis Of Shark Vertebrae, Kathryn Griggs Jul 2022

X-Ray Diffraction And Structural Analysis Of Shark Vertebrae, Kathryn Griggs

DePaul Discoveries

Just like how rings correspond to the growth record of trees, some mineralized tissues of mammals contain temporal sequences of tissue development [Klevezal, 1996]. Shark vertebrae consist of cartilage mineralized with hydroxyapatite (HA). A recent study of vertebrae of seven shark species found that this tissue material stiffness and strength are similar to those of mammalian trabecular bone [Porter, 2006]. The periodic array of atoms in the HA nanocrystals in shark vertebrae produce peaks of diffracted intensity. The present project studied thousands of x-ray diffraction patterns of shark vertebrae collected at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory. …


Stratospheric Effects On Uv, Speed Of Sound, Pressure, And Temperature, Joshua V. Chis, Joana Diaz, Brianna E. Ortiz, Imani G. Robertson, Jelani A. Shadd Jul 2022

Stratospheric Effects On Uv, Speed Of Sound, Pressure, And Temperature, Joshua V. Chis, Joana Diaz, Brianna E. Ortiz, Imani G. Robertson, Jelani A. Shadd

DePaul Discoveries

The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each with its own distinct environment varying in temperature, pressure, and levels of UV radiation. Quantifying these varying parameters proves to be useful in understanding atmospheric composition in greater detail. Variance in the composition of the atmosphere allows for the study of the evolution of physical phenomena at different altitudes. Our group quantified this variance using a high-altitude weather balloon and designed an experimental method to observe the nature of sound propagation through varying altitudes. The goal was to develop an altitude-dependent model of the speed of sound by using an open-air, microcontroller-based …


Random Walks In The Quarter Plane: Solvable Models With An Analytical Approach, Harshita Bali, Enrico Au-Yeung Jul 2022

Random Walks In The Quarter Plane: Solvable Models With An Analytical Approach, Harshita Bali, Enrico Au-Yeung

DePaul Discoveries

Initially, an urn contains 3 blue balls and 1 red ball. A ball is randomly chosen from the urn. The ball is returned to the urn, together with one additional ball of the same type (red or blue). When the urn has twenty balls in it, what is the probability that exactly ten balls are blue? This is a model for a random process. This urn model has been extended in various ways and we consider some of these generalizations. Urn models can be formulated as random walks in the quarter plane. Our findings indicate that for a specific type …


What's In Your Soil? A Comparative Assessment Of Total Lead In Soils In Southwest Side And North Side Chicago Communities, Jennifer Garcia Jul 2022

What's In Your Soil? A Comparative Assessment Of Total Lead In Soils In Southwest Side And North Side Chicago Communities, Jennifer Garcia

DePaul Discoveries

In Chicago, city officials continue to locate polluting industries in predominately Black and Hispanic/Latinx neighborhoods. Lower income families are disproportionately exposed to greater amounts of toxic chemicals such as lead (Pb). While the City of Chicago focuses its effort in removing industrial sites from the North Side, a predominately white community area, sources of industrial pollution are more likely to be found in communities of color. Due to the prevalent sources of Pb on the Southwest side, residential soil is often highly disturbed and contaminated. Pb is a serious neurotoxin, and ingestion or inhalation of Pb contaminated soil and dust …


Atmospheric Phosphorus Deposition Into A Fresh Water Wetland: Prairie Wolf Slough Restored Wetland, Isaac B. Daitzchman Jul 2022

Atmospheric Phosphorus Deposition Into A Fresh Water Wetland: Prairie Wolf Slough Restored Wetland, Isaac B. Daitzchman

DePaul Discoveries

Phosphorus is a major element needed for plant growth. Excess phosphorus from agricultural runoff and urban stormwater can enter waterways, resulting in growth of toxic algal blooms that are deleterious to local fauna. One way to remove phosphorus is by diverting agricultural and urban runoff into wetlands. One such wetland is Prairie Wolf Slough (PWS), located in north suburban Chicago, IL. Stormwater enters PWS through an inlet channel and exits through an outlet pipe into the Chicago River. A 16-year study documented that a significantly greater mass of phosphorus leaves PWS than enters through the inlet. This study accounted for …


Optimization Of Dye Molecules For Use In Studying Inflammatory Caspase Enzymes, Josiah D. Stewart, Phasu Sirinit Jul 2022

Optimization Of Dye Molecules For Use In Studying Inflammatory Caspase Enzymes, Josiah D. Stewart, Phasu Sirinit

DePaul Discoveries

Inflammatory caspases are important enzymes in the initial immune response to pathogens. A common method of studying caspase activity is through the use of fluorogenic assays, in which the cleavage of a substrate by an enzyme results in the emission of fluorescence. Fluorogenic assays require the use of fluorophores: molecules that will fluoresce upon the cleavage of a substrate. Different fluorophores have different characteristics, and these characteristics can be analyzed in order to determine which fluorophores will be most suitable for activity assays. Two commercially available fluorophores were compared for use in fluorogenic assays of inflammatory caspases: MCA and EDANS. …


Depaul Discoveries Volume 11 Cover Art, Dina Khdair Jul 2022

Depaul Discoveries Volume 11 Cover Art, Dina Khdair

DePaul Discoveries

No abstract provided.


Depaul Digest Mar 2022

Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

Marquee - No Train, No Gain: Sarah Cleveland Frost helps DePaul employees learn the ropes and climb higher; Memoranda - Now We Must: The Campaign for DePaul’s Students, Alumni and Family Weekend 2021 and Alumni Welcome Center Moves Downtown; Milestones; Memories - DePaul’s Minority Student Advisory Board; Master Class - How to Garden Sustainably


Winter 2021 Dec 2021

Winter 2021

In The Loop

2021 Emmy Nominees; Animator Tapped by Cartoon Network; IndieCade Horizons 2021; Hack4Space; Security Daemons Prevail; Role Models: DePaul Originals Game Studio students build industry-level skills that benefit themselves and others; Frames and Fortune: Eugene Bush programmed his indie video studio with patience and planning; Reality Check: Heather Snyder Quinn augments reality to question systems of unchecked power


Mapping Polynomial Dynamics, Devin Becker Aug 2021

Mapping Polynomial Dynamics, Devin Becker

DePaul Discoveries

We explore the complex dynamics of a family of polynomials defined on the complex plane by f(z) = azm(1+z/d)d where a is a complex number not equal to zero, and m and d are at least 2. These functions have three finite critical points, one of which has behavior that differs as we change our parameter values. We analyze the dynamical behavior at this critical point, with a particular interest in the structures that appear in the filled Julia set K(f) and the basin of infinity A_{\infty}(f). The behavior of the family is extremely sensitive to our …


Triangulation And Finite Element Method For A Variational Problem Inspired By Medical Imaging, Tim Komperda, Enrico Au-Yeung Aug 2021

Triangulation And Finite Element Method For A Variational Problem Inspired By Medical Imaging, Tim Komperda, Enrico Au-Yeung

DePaul Discoveries

We implement the finite element method to solve a variational problem that is inspired by medical imaging. In our application, the domain of the image does not need to be a rectangle and can contain a cavity in the middle. The standard approach to solve a variational problem involves formulating the problem as a partial differential equation. Instead, we solve the variational problem directly, using only techniques available to anyone familiar with vector calculus. As part of the computation, we also explore how triangulation is a useful tool in the process.


Using Methanol Masers To Probe High Mass Star Forming Regions, Naomi S. Shechter, Anuj P. Sarma Aug 2021

Using Methanol Masers To Probe High Mass Star Forming Regions, Naomi S. Shechter, Anuj P. Sarma

DePaul Discoveries

Compared to low mass stars, the formation of high mass stars is not well understood. To understand better how high mass stars form, we can utilize masers, naturally amplified point sources of microwave radiation. One example is the methanol maser, which falls into two categories. Class I methanol masers form in the bipolar outflows from the protostar, and Class II masers form in the accretion disk. Their compact size and intensity make them an excellent source of information about the process of high mass star formation. We compiled a modest database of Class I and II methanol masers through a …


An Investigation Of Water Masers In High Mass Star Forming Regions, Eleanor A. Webb Aug 2021

An Investigation Of Water Masers In High Mass Star Forming Regions, Eleanor A. Webb

DePaul Discoveries

Within deep space are massive molecular clouds and within these molecular clouds, stars form. In these regions of star formation, masers can occur. I studied the presence of water masers within these high mass star forming regions. This was done in order to ascertain whether or not there is a correlation between the intensity of water masers versus the star formation activity within the molecular clouds. My findings provide answers to my specific research questions and includes information on the location of the water masers I observed with the star-forming regions. These findings provide information on water masers and sets …


Correlation Effects On Intramolecular C-H...Oh And O-H...O Hydrogen Bond Interactions In Azelaic Acid: An Ab Initio Study, Sabina Kalata, Alina Huang, Ruben Parra Aug 2021

Correlation Effects On Intramolecular C-H...Oh And O-H...O Hydrogen Bond Interactions In Azelaic Acid: An Ab Initio Study, Sabina Kalata, Alina Huang, Ruben Parra

DePaul Discoveries

Electron correlation effects on both conventional, O-H…O, and nonconventional, C-H…O, intramolecular hydrogen bonds present in a selected azelaic acid folded conformation were evaluated ab initio using HF and MP2 methodologies. The relative strength of the hydrogen bonds was examined through different indicators derived from geometry, vibrational frequencies, and electron density along the hydrogen bond path. The HF method results in weaker O-H…O and C-H…O hydrogen bonds when compared with the corresponding results using the MP2 method. Additionally, the stability of the folded azelaic conformation is found to depend on the level of theory used. Accordingly, the zero-point corrected energies of …