Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Unraveling The Physics Of Quasar Jets Using Hst Polarimetry, Devon Clautice

Theses and Dissertations

We present a multiwavelength study of three high-power FR II (quasar) jets -- 3C 273, PKS 0637-752, and 1150+497 -- with an emphasis on new high-quality Hubble Space Telescope (HST) optical polarimetry and Chandra X-ray Observatory imaging. Relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei transport energy and mass from the supermassive black hole’s accretion region out to Megaparsec-scale lobes, with effects that feedback into galaxy formation and cluster energetics. We build on recent work which has called into question our fundamental understanding of FR II jet physics, and suggest that highly-efficient particle acceleration must be taking place in situ …

Deep Learning In Indus Valley Script Digitization, Deva Munikanta Reddy Atturu

Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces ASR-net(Ancient Script Recognition), a groundbreaking system that automatically digitizes ancient Indus seals by converting them into coded text, similar to Optical Character Recognition for modern languages. ASR-net, with an 95% success rate in identifying individual symbols, aims to address the crucial need for automated techniques in deciphering the enigmatic Indus script. Initially Yolov3 is utilized to create the bounding boxes around each graphemes present in the Indus Valley Seal. In addition to that we created M-net(Mahadevan) model to encode the graphemes. Beyond digitization, the paper proposes a new research challenge called the Motif Identification Problem (MIP) related …

Space Transformation For Open Set Recognition, Atefeh Mahdavi

Theses and Dissertations

Open Set Recognition (OSR) is about dealing with unknown situations that were not learned by the models during training. In OSR, only a limited number of known classes are available at the time of training the model and the possibility of unknown classes never seen at training time emerges in the test environment. In such a setting, the unknown classes and their risk should be considered in the algorithm. Such systems require not only to identify and discriminate instances that belong to the source domain (i.e., the seen known classes contained in the training dataset) but also to reject unknown …

A Statistical Fetch Model For Water Wave Glint Correction Using Worldview-3 Imagery, Amanda Jade Quintanilla

Theses and Dissertations

Sun glint in satellite imagery of the water surface contaminates the upwelling signal received by a detector. Many models exist that attempt to correct for this wave facet effect and phenomena. In this work a model for sun glint correction is created using the comparison of image transects between two nearly simultaneously collected images of the same area, although with differing sensor geometry. One image utilized in this research is almost entirely glint free while the other is contaminated by water wave facet glint. Although many models for removing sun glint exist based on various techniques, none are completely accurate, …

Modelling Terrestrial And Potential Extraterrestrial Photopigments Via Density Functional Theory, Dorothea Illner

Theses and Dissertations

In the search for extraterrestrial life, biosignatures play a crucial role in identifying its putative traces. A commonly known and robust biosignature is the Vegetation Red Edge (VRE), which can be described as a sharp increase of reflectance observed from a planet and stems from the light absorption of photopigments in specific regions in the electromagnetic spectrum. For Earth, this VRE is known to occur around 700 nm, however, if the photopigments absorb light in different regions and have different structures the VRE could experience a wavelenght shift.

In this work, Chlorophyll a and a potential photopigment precursor called Phot0 …

Investigating The Impact Of Human-Centered Interface Design On The User Experience Of Mobile Device Users, Ruchir Gupta

Theses and Dissertations

In order to investigate the intricate interaction between interface design, user technological proficiency, and other components of the user experience, this research study used a mixed-method approach. The beginner user group—those with little experience or expertise with technology - were the main target audience. The important discovery emphasizes the substantial influence that careful design can have on improving the effectiveness and usability of interfaces for non-tech-savvy individuals. When using the suggested Interface B instead of the current Interface A, beginner participants' task completion times significantly improved, according to the user study. This underlines the significance of creating with the needs …

Anxiety In International Graduate Students With U.S. Education, Aeshah Zarraa

Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety in international graduate students is a significant concern for most students planning to move out of their home country to pursue higher education in the United States. The primary purpose of this research is to identify the prime causes of anxiety triggers in the targetted Graduate students, thereby determining a step-wise methodology development to address the causes. The study initially identified a set of graduate students who were voluntarily willing to collaborate and address their concerns anonymously to identify the significant issues faced by current students and alumni of the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida. Several questions were …

Analyzing The Effects Of Ultrafast Laser Processing On Mechanical Properties Of 3d-Printed Pla Parts, Darshan Pramodbhai Yadav

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in additive manufacturing technologies have already led to wide-scale adoption of 3D-printed parts in various industries. The expansion in choice of materials that can be processed, particularly using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and the steady advancements in dimensional accuracy control have extended the range of applications far beyond rapid prototyping. However, additive manufacturing still has considerable limitations compared to traditional and subtractive manufacturing processes. This work addresses limitations associated with the as-deposited surface roughness of 3D-printed parts. The effects of roughness-induced stress concentrations were studied on ultimate tensile strength and fatigue life. The samples were manufactured using a …

The Private Pilot Check Ride: Applying The Spacing Effect Theory To Predict Time To Proficiency For The Practical Test, Michael Scott Harwin

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between a set of targeted factors and the total flight time students needed to become ready to take the private pilot check ride. The study was grounded in Ebbinghaus’s (1885/1913/2013) forgetting curve theory and spacing effect, and Ausubel’s (1963) theory of meaningful learning. The research factors included (a) training time to proficiency, which represented the number of training days needed to become check-ride ready; (b) flight training program (Part 61 vs. Part 141); (c) organization offering the training program (2- or 4-year college/university vs. FBO); (d) scheduling policy (mandated vs. student-driven); and demographical variables, which …

The Relationship Between Biofouling Adhesion And Frequency Of Mechanical Cleaning To Control The Recruitment To Clear Coatings, Dylan Thomas Eggers

Theses and Dissertations

There is a need to control biofouling on sensors and transparent windows in the marine environment. Clear silicone coatings offer a method to reduce the adhesion strength of marine organisms to the surface, however, these also require mechanical cleaning to maintain the surfaces free of fouling. This research evaluated the performance of eighty seven formulations and took the top two candidates to investigate a) the frequencies of wiping required by a brush to maintain two coatings and uncoated glass surfaces free of fouling and b) the effects of clear silicone coatings fouling release properties on required frequencies. The panels were …

Qasm-To-Hls: A Framework For Accelerating Quantum Circuit Emulation On High-Performance Reconfigurable Computers, Anshul Maurya

Theses and Dissertations

High-performance reconfigurable computers (HPRCs) make use of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for efficient emulation of quantum algorithms. Generally, algorithm-specific architectures are implemented on the FPGAs and there is very little flexibility. Moreover, mapping a quantum algorithm onto its equivalent FPGA emulation architecture is challenging. In this work, we present an automation framework for converting quantum circuits to their equivalent FPGA emulation architectures. The framework processes quantum circuits represented in Quantum Assembly Language (QASM) and derives high-level descriptions of the hardware emulation architectures for High-Level Synthesis (HLS) on HPRCs. The framework generates the code for a heterogeneous architecture consisting of a …

Low Reynolds Number Locomotion Near Interfaces In Two-Fluid Media, Avriel Rowena Mae Cartwright

Theses and Dissertations

Microorganisms often swim within complex fluid environments composed of multiple materials with very different properties. Biological locomotion, including swimming speed, is significantly impacted by the physical composition and rheology of the surrounding fluid environment, as well as the presence of phase boundaries and free interfaces, across which physical properties of the fluid media may vary greatly. Through computational simulations, we first investigate the classical Taylor’s swimming sheet problem near interfaces within multi-fluid environments using a two-fluid immersed boundary method. The accuracy of the methodology is illustrated through comparisons with analytical solutions. Our simulation results indicate that the interface dynamics and …

Accelerating Machine Learning Inference For Satellite Component Feature Extraction Using Fpgas., Andrew Ekblad

Theses and Dissertations

Running computer vision algorithms requires complex devices with lots of computing power, these types of devices are not well suited for space deployment. The harsh radiation environment and limited power budgets have hindered the ability of running advanced computer vision algorithms in space. This problem makes running an on-orbit servicing detection algorithm very difficult. This work proposes using a low powered FPGA to accelerate the computer vision algorithms that enable satellite component feature extraction. This work uses AMD/Xilinx’s Zynq SoC and DPU IP to run model inference. Experiments in this work centered around improving model post processing by creating implementations …

A Work Towards A Single-Bridge Hydrazine Sensor, Brenden Jay Schmeltz

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrazine can currently be detected by irreversible methods, Carbazolopyridinophane (2,18-Dithia[3][1,8]carbazolo[3][2,6]pyridinophane) CP was synthesized by Brown et al. to detect hydrazine in real-time while also being reversible. The threshold for detection was 100 ppb, regulatory use requires 10 ppb as this is when permanent damage to humans can be caused. A more sensitive sensor will allow for safer workplaces for many people. A single, 3-atom bridge sensor will further examine the photophysical capabilities of carbazole-pyridine as an emitter/quencher pair. 1-Carbazole-1-methylpyridyl-2methyl sulfide SBCP will allow freedom of rotation as well as the bending of the bridge. These benefits will introduce conformers which …

Forecasting >100 Mev Sep Events And Intensity Based On Cme And Other Solar Activities Using Machine Learning, Daniel Lee Griessler

Theses and Dissertations

There is a severe risk for astronauts and machinery from high intensity Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events which can be mitigated through accurate forecast of their presence and peak intensity. By using characteristics of CME and other space weather phenomena, machine learning techniques have the potential to classify and predict the peak intensity of SEP events. The extreme scarcity of SEP events in current datasets poses a challenge to traditional machine learning techniques. In this work, we first demonstrate classifier machine learning techniques that can achieve an F1 score of 0.800 in forecasting SEP events. We then propose techniques for …

Security Of Text To Image Conversions, Zobaida Alssadi

Theses and Dissertations

The use of images and icons to represent news or narratives has grown in popularity. Still, one critical problem is that they are not equivalent to language, making them vulnerable to adversary attacks. This study examines the impact of image-poisoning attacks based on polysemantic words and of image attacks based on cultural differences when converting text to images. Such attacks can lead to the loss of important information and create confusion and incorrect interpretations of the intended meaning, misinforming the general public. The study specifically focuses on possible effects in a news and story context. This study highlights the significance …

Using Asos Ceilings And Mesonet Relative Humidity To Improve General Aviation Flight Planning And Decision Making In Complex Terrain, Connor Hayden Welch

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the increasing availability of weather products and access to data, the issue of weather representativeness, especially in relation to terrain, persists in the aviation industry. Data-sparse regions pose a particular challenge, requiring focused research efforts to address this issue and reduce accident and fatality rates within the general aviation (GA) community. This thesis aims to tackle the specific problem of representing visibility conditions, with a focus on obscuration conditions in elevated terrain.

To achieve this goal, data from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) ceilometers and nearby mesonet relative humidity (RH) were analyzed to establish a relationship between the lowest …

Lessening Student Anxiety With Docker, Kourtnee Fernalld

Theses and Dissertations

Remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the educational landscape for hands-on Computer Science courses. This paradigm shift accelerated the transition from traditional in-person programming labs to decentralized student-provided resources. Even as students returned to in-person learning, many continued to rely on their personal computers rather than embracing university-provided labs. However, this shift to decentralized, heterogeneous environments introduces various information technology and instructional challenges. The recent emergence of lightweight, container-based virtualization presents a unique opportunity to address these challenges by offering standardized environments on decentralized platforms. To investigate this opportunity, we implemented lightweight virtualization for three undergraduate computer science courses …

Obscuration Analysis Of Camera Imagery For Aviation Applications, Patrick James Roelant

Theses and Dissertations

Image feature detection is a potent tool with many applications, such as fog identification, roadway conditions, etc. As part of the recent surge in machine learning applications, cloud detection has also become an increasingly engaged area of research. Identifying low clouds is especially useful with respect to aviation, particularly in regions of complex topography prone to visibility-related hazards such as haze or fog. To address this issue, a threshold-based semi-automated algorithm was developed and tested to determine whether or not an image is obscured by fog or haze. Images were obtained from a ground-based camera network in Southern California, the …

Anti-Doping Crisis In Sports, What's Next? Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry For The Study Of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, Diana Constanza Velosa

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this work is to augment both qualitative and quantitative measures of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) with ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), laying the foundation for implementation into analytical drug testing laboratories. AAS testing requires high sensitivity and specificity. IM-MS is presented as an emerging technology workflow capable of targeted quantification of AAS and structural elucidation for potential unknowns, allowing ions to be separated and characterized based on their rotationally averaged collision cross section (CCS). Chapter 1 provides a background of the basic principles of IMS and the different types of analytical methods used for doping analysis currently …

Global Upper Bounds For The Landau Equation Of Plasma Physics In The Very Soft Potentials Case, Caleb Solomon

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores global upper bounds for solutions of the Landau equation in the soft potentials case (γ < −2). In particular, this paper explores the case of γ ∈ [−3,−2). Working with a classical solution to the Landau equation weighted by a cut-off function χ and using the Moser iteration, an upper bound for the L∞v norm of the solution to the Landau equation f is obtained proportianally to the L2 v norm of f with the assumptions of positive, essentially bounded coefficients. The supremum of f for t ∈ [0, T], x ∈ R3, v ∈ BR for some large radius R is shown to be bounded polynomially in R.

Towards Explainable Ai: Predicting Linear And Nonlinear Feature Relations Of Datasets, Nimmy Chhaganbhai Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) makes critical decisions in an opaque way without explaining the reasoning behind them. Decision support systems are often built as black boxes. This has generated interest in Explainable AI (XAI), an area of research that explains AI algorithms and provides more insight into their internal decision-making process. Advancements in XAI have enhanced machine learning (ML) models’ interpretability, explainability, and transparency. Additionally, there has been speculation on whether it is possible to predict the type of dataset used in the model by analyzing the results. In this research, we proposed a methodology for determining the linearity or non-linearity …

Towards Privacy-Preserving Social Media Networks: Protecting The Facial Privacy Of Images Uploaded On Social Media, Ahsi Lo

Theses and Dissertations

Since the 2000s, social media has allowed individuals the ability to communicate online. As the popularity of social media increased, the sharing of information such as pictures increased as well. Recently, there have been privacy concerns about the information shared online such as cases where third parties were able to gain access to users’ information without being given explicit access through scraping or other means. When user images are scraped from social media, there is a risk that these individuals can be identified o✏ine. Bystanders, who may be captured in images also run this risk of identification. This research investigates …

1. Influence Of Metal Ions And Solvents On The Photo-Generation Of Reactive Oxygen Species In Mesoporous Silicate Embedded Porphyrins 2.Water-Soluble Rhodium(Iii) Porphyrin Complex For The Biological Inactivation Of Fentanyl, Hemant Pal

Theses and Dissertations

Porphyrins are differentiated π-conjugated compounds with unique photochemical and redox properties. The tetrapyrrole macrocycle core of porphyrins is extremely favorable for the complexation of metal ions, resulting in hybrid metal-organic molecules with good catalytic properties. Porphyrin-based systems are known for their oxidative properties and are frequently utilized as bio-mimicking catalysts and environmental remediation agents. My current research aims at both of these aspects. One of the most efficient methods to create photocatalytic systems with outstanding features and applicability is the use of porphyrins on supported solid materials. A series of novel mesoporous silicate-embedded metalloporphyrins were prepared via conjugation of novel …

Design And Synthesis Of Novel Peptide-Metal Organic Frameworks, Moustafa Mahmoud Abdel Wahid Hamaad

Theses and Dissertations

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline porous materials with extended network structures formed through the reticular assembly of inorganic and organic molecular building blocks through strong coordination bonds. Compared to other porous materials, MOFs offer a high degree of structural diversity as their shape and pore size as well as functionality can tuned by the precise selection and design of their metal centers and organic struts. Due to their high surface areas, pore volumes, and the possibility of introduction of a myriad of chemical functionalities in their structures, MOFs have gained popularity for applications in many fields such …

Water-Soluble Iron Porphyrin Complex For The Catalytic N-Dealkylation Of Fentanyl, Amanda Pitt

Theses and Dissertations

An increase in the misuse of opioids in the United States and the increasing potency of analogs necessitates novel treatments of opioid overdose. The chemical structure of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, carfentanil, and morphine possess a trialkyl amine functional group (-NR3) which makes for a promising target for potential catalysts. Iron (III)-tetrasulfonatophenyl porphyrin (complex 9) was synthesized as a potential catalyst for degradation of fentanyl. Complex 9a was prepared from the direct reaction of the free porphyrin and FeSO4. Complex 9b was prepared from the direct reaction of the free porphyrin and FeCl2 in refluxing DMF. The complexes were …

Analysis Of Steroid Hormone Isomers Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry, Shon Paul Neal

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive study on the analysis of steroid hormone isomers using liquid chromatography-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS). The dissertation is divided into three main parts: the first part focuses on research using different drift gases and ion adducts to modify the mobility separations allowing for resolution between the isomers. The second part focuses on research exploring derivatization reactions that target structural differences between the steroid hormone isomers to amplify the differences and resolve the isomers in the ion mobility region. The final part covers a proposal on future study directions to include simultaneous derivatization reactions, mass spectrometry fragmentation, …

Nonlinear Mathematical Transformations For Improved Image And Signal Recovery Using Artificial Neural Network, Haoran Chang

Theses and Dissertations

Medical imaging plays a vital role in modern healthcare, enabling clinicians to diagnose and treat a range of conditions. However, image acquisition and processing can be challenging because they can often be hindered by motion blurring, leading to inaccurate results. To address that, this dissertation proposes a novel approach based on nonlinear mathematical transformations and artificial neural networks (ANN). The dissertation begins with an introduction to Nuclear Medicine and the problem of motion blur in image reconstruction. A background on Medical Imaging techniques, including the Radon transform and Image Reconstruction methods such as Filtered Back Projection and Iterative Reconstruction methods …

Assessing The Effect Of Atmospheric Turbulence On Long-Range Face Recognition Accuracy, Muskan Jain

Theses and Dissertations

Recent investigations have demonstrated that it might be challenging to identify faces in the images taken using a long-distance camera. A face seems blurry in these images because of the presence of atmospheric turbulence. To examine how atmospheric turbulence impacts face biometrics, we establish a simulated environment that exhibits different degrees of turbulence. We employed the Rytov Variance, which relies on the distance and refractive index, C2 n, to get various turbulence levels. We used the LRFID dataset to carry out the study, which is a collection of photos and videos taken in the field and in a controlled setting. …

Modeling And Simulation Of Ion-Induced Volume Phase Transitions In Chemically-Active Polyelectrolyte Gels, Bindi Mahesh Nagda

Theses and Dissertations

Ion-induced volume phase transitions in polyelectrolyte gels play an important role in physiological processes such as mucus storage and secretion in the gut, nerve tissue excitation, and DNA packaging. Biological experiments show that polyelectrolyte gels may swell or collapse rapidly due to changes in external conditions such as ionic composition. The volume phase transition is accompanied by a monovalent/ divalent ion exchange between the polymer network and the solvent that make up the gel. We propose a 2D computational method for simulating mucus swelling and deswelling with a two-fluid mixture model. The model includes electro-diffusive transport of ionic species, the …