Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigation Of Lignin Solubilization Using Quantum Chemical Calculations In Constrained Media, Leo Sanzone

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Lignin is a common, yet complex polymer found in a majority of vascular plants. The polymer can easily be functionalized, and it is a readily available and renewable source of carbon-based material without a petrol source. There are various methods to allow for the dissolution of lignin, one of which involves the use of H₂O and CO₂ in supercritical conditions. This particular solution bends the normal solvation rules and allows for multiple instances of H-bonding interactions.

By using Density Functional theory, this study aims to identify the molecular interactions of guaiacol (the most basic fragment of lignin) …

The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (Noddac), A Student-Led Citizen Science Project: One-Year Retrospective, Future Developments, And Scientific Potential, Vincent Ledvina, Elizabeth Macdonald, Steven Collins, Michael Mccormack, Timothy Young, Wayne Barkhouse

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC) is a student-led project operated in conjunction with the University of North Dakota (UND), the LiveAuroraNetwork, and Aurorasaurus citizen science. Aurora cameras are valuable tools for aurora chasers, and scientists, providing ground-truth visual data to gauge auroral activity, yet at midlatitudes, these facilities are few in number. Deploying aurora cameras in these areas provides a valuable resource for aurora-chasing communities, but also demonstrates scientific merit as the analysis of rare phenomena, such as STEVEs, benefit from multiple geographic observations. What makes this project unique is the student initiative being based at a university …

Supernovae Distributions And Their Relationships To Classes Of Stars, Sydney Menne

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Aims. Data from astronomical catalogs are plotted as spatial distributions of stars and supernovae throughout the Milky Way galaxy and the universe. I examined correlations seen between the luminosity classes of stars, types of supernovae, and selection effects observed in the data.

Methods. Data was gathered from three catalogs; the Gliese Catalog of Nearby Stars, the Tycho-2 Catalog, and the Open Supernova Catalog. Graphs and diagrams were created to visualize the distributions of the stellar luminosity classes and supernova types at different radial distances from the Sun. Trendlines were fit through the data to examine extrapolated predictions.

Results/Conclusions. Documenting stars …