Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Post-Modeling Adjustments And Delivered Dose Verification Of The 6fff Beam Model Commissioned For The Monaco Treatment Planning System, Grant C. Debevec

LSU Master's Theses

External beam radiation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment method for tumors and abnormalities of the spine and vertebral region. Treating the spine using a stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) technique can reduce toxicity to the spinal cord. The 6 MV flattening filter free (6FFF) beam model is currently used to plan and calculate dose for SBRT treatment plans, and the treatment plans are delivered using a linear accelerator (LINAC).

The commissioned beam model represents an invariant component of a LINAC. For volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans, the multileaf collimator (MLC) positions are changing throughout …

All-Optical Probes Of Particle-Like Charge Migration Dynamics, Kyle A. Hamer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Particle-like charge migration (CM) is the coherent, back-and-forth motion of a positively-charged electron hole along the backbone of a molecule following a sudden ionization. CM in small molecules generally occurs on an Angstrom (10^-10 m) spatial scale and an attosecond (10^-18 s) timescale. I use time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) to simulate CM modes in organic molecules, and to explore all-optical probes of this attosecond electron dynamics using high-harmonic spectroscopy (HHS). By leveraging my results from previous studies of two-center interferences in carbon dichalcogens, in which I separated the harmonic signal into contributions from individual Kohn-Sham orbitals, I first …

Finite Monodromy And Artin Representations, Emma Lien

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Artin representations, which are complex representations of finite Galois groups, appear in many contexts in number theory. The Langlands program predicts that Galois representations like these should arise from automorphic representations and many examples of this correspondence have been found such as in the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. This dissertation aims to make an analysis of explicitly computable examples of Artin representations from both sides of this correspondence. On the automorphic side, certain weight 1 modular forms have been shown to be related to Artin representations and an explicit analysis of their Fourier coefficients allows us to identify the …

Reducibility Of Schrödinger Operators On Multilayer Graphs, Jorge Villalobos Alvarado

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A local defect in an atomic structure can engender embedded eigenvalues when the associated Schrödinger operator is either block reducible or Fermi reducible, and having multilayer structures appears to be typically necessary for obtaining such types of reducibility. Discrete and quantum graph models are commonly used in this context as they often capture the relevant features of the physical system in consideration.

This dissertation lays out the framework for studying different types of multilayer discrete and quantum graphs that enjoy block or Fermi reducibility. Schrödinger operators with both electric and magnetic potentials are considered. We go on to construct a …

Estimating Crustal Thickness In Northwest Louisiana Using The Receiver Function Method, Delton Samuel

LSU Master's Theses

I aim to constrain the crustal thickness of the Sabine Block in the Sabine Uplift region of northwest Louisiana, using the frequency domain receiver function deconvolution technique followed by H-κ stacking. The passive margin on the southern edge of the North American continent experienced an active tectonic history, including the spreading events that led to the formation of the Gulf of Mexico. A previous study proposed the Sabine Block is a residual fragment of Proterozoic orogenic origin; however, its full extent and geometry are up for debate. It is now overlain by thick sedimentary sequences ranging from ~4-6 km deposited …

Exploration Of Characteristic Curve In Fox Float 3 Shock Dampers To Expedite Shock Damp Tuning., Joshua R. Moore

Honors College Theses

The shock absorber is an integral part of a vehicle suspension system and has a strong influence on its performance, especially in the case of motorsports. It is important to study the force versus velocity relationship, commonly known as the characteristic curve of the shock absorber both during compression and rebound. Vendor-supplied characteristics often reflect the behavior of the shock absorber in a particular setting. However, during the installation, the settings inside the shock absorber are adjusted to increase the human comfort level and performance of the vehicle. This may change the characteristic curve of the shock. The available data …

The Modular Generalized Springer Correspondence For The Symplectic Group, Joseph Dorta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Modular Generalized Springer Correspondence (MGSC), as developed by Achar, Juteau, Henderson, and Riche, stands as a significant extension of the early groundwork laid by Lusztig's Springer Correspondence in characteristic zero which provided crucial insights into the representation theory of finite groups of Lie type. Building upon Lusztig's work, a generalized version of the Springer Correspondence was later formulated to encompass broader contexts.

In the realm of modular representation theory, Juteau's efforts gave rise to the Modular Springer Correspondence, offering a framework to explore the interplay between algebraic geometry and representation theory in positive characteristic. Achar, Juteau, Henderson, and Riche …

Subroups Of Coxeter Groups And Stallings Foldings, Jake A. Murphy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

For each finitely generated subgroup of a Coxeter group, we define a cell complex called a completion. We show that these completions characterizes the index and normality of the subgroup. We construct a completion corresponding to the intersection of two subgroups and use this construction to characterize malnormality of subgroups of right-angled Coxeter groups. Finally, we show that if a completion of a subgroup is finite, then the subgroup is quasiconvex. Using this, we show that certain reflection subgroups of a Coxeter are quasiconvex.

Analytic Wavefront Sets Of Spherical Distributions On The De Sitter Space, Iswarya Sitiraju

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this work, we determine the wavefront set of certain eigendistributions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on the de Sitter space. Let G′ = O_1,n(R) be the Lorentz group, and let H′ = O_1,n−1(R) ⊂ G′ be its subset. The de Sitter space dSⁿ is a one-sheeted hyperboloid in R^1,n isomorphic to G′/H′. A spherical distribution is an H′-invariant eigendistribution of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on dSⁿ. The space of spherical distributions with eigenvalue λ, denoted by D_λ^H'(dSⁿ), has dimension 2. We construct a basis for the space of …

Navigating Murky Waters: State-Level Strategies For Wetland Preservation And Tile Drainage Regulation After Sackett V. Epa, Caleb M. Swanson

Honors Thesis

Wetlands are some of the world’s most valuable ecosystems, serving as provisioners of species habitat, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, water quality purification, and other ecosystem services. Human development has resulted in substantial wetland loss the world over. In the 1970s, the United States Congress passed the Clean Water Act, giving the EPA broad authority over wetland protection. However, in the summer of 2023, the United States Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA, limiting the EPA’s jurisdiction over wetlands to those indistinguishably connected to generally recognized “Waters of the United States” and removing federal protection for millions of acres of wetlands, …

Applying Mathematical Modeling To The Study Of Family Systems, Dahlia Maxwell

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematical modeling provides a powerful framework for insight into current scientific theories as well as hypothesis generation for further research. Despite its undeniable potential to enrich scientific advancement, the application of mathematical modeling remains conspicuously scarce in the field of family science. The complexity inherent in family dynamics, coupled with the intricate interplay of emotions in the individual, underscores the necessity of a robust analytical approach. Addressing this critical gap in the literature, this thesis introduces a sophisticated mathematical model of family dynamics integrating essential elements from family systems theory, emotion dynamics, and appraisal theory. The model is implemented as …

Advancing Single-Cell Proteomics Through Innovations In Liquid Chromatography And Mass Spectrometry, Kei Grant Isaac Webber

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional proteomics studies can measure many protein biomarkers simultaneously from a single patient-derived sample, promising the possibility of syndromic diagnoses of multiple diseases sharing common symptoms. However, precious cellular-level information is lost in conventional bulk-scale studies that measure tissues comprising many types of cells. As single cells are the building blocks of organisms and are easier to biopsy than traditional bulk samples, performing proteomics on a single-cell level would benefit clinicians and patients. Single-cell proteomics, combined with mass spectrometry imaging, can be used to analyze cells in their microenvironment, preserving spatial information. We have previously used laser-capture microdissection to isolate …

Factors Predicting Public’S Willingness To Support National Aeronautics And Space Administration’S Artemis Mission, Sean Crouse

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

NASA's Artemis program aspires to return astronauts to the moon and aims to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. The endeavor symbolizes the next evolution in space exploration and serves as a testament to the human spirit of discovery. In the face of this significant undertaking, gauging public sentiment and understanding the factors driving public support becomes necessary. The current study aimed to address a critical gap in the literature by examining public support for NASA’s Artemis mission, which is essential for sustaining the program’s momentum and cultivating a culture of innovation and exploration. …

Study Of Deep Learning Models To Classify Nasa’S Kepler Light Curves, Heena Minnich

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The search for exoplanets has been an ongoing effort since the first discoveries of planets beyond our solar system in the 1990s. Finding a potentially habitable planet outside our solar system could provide key insights on life elsewhere in the universe. NASA Missions such as the Kepler, launched in 2009 and completed in 2018, have provided a massive amount of data in this goal by using the transit method to discover repetitive and periodic dips in visible light around a star. The transit method has been used to measure flux, the brightness of a star over time. These flux time …

Longitudinal Solid Polarized Target For Clas12 And Study Of Spin Structure Of Nucleons, Pushpa Pandey

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A suite of experiments measuring target-spin observables in electron-nucleon scattering (dubbed Run Group C) was conducted at Jefferson Lab’s Hall B in Newport News, VA with a new polarized nuclear target known as ‘APOLLO’ (Ammonia Polarized Longitudinally). This innovative target is engineered to seamlessly integrate with the advanced 12 GeV CEBAF (Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility) accelerator and the Hall B CLAS12 (12 GeV CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer) detector array. The ‘APOLLO’ target harnesses the power of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) to achieve longitudinal polarization of solid ammonia, thereby creating a net polarization in both protons (NH₃) and …

Development Of One And Two Current Transition Amplitudes With Two Body Final States, Keegan H. Sherman

Physics Theses & Dissertations

One of the biggest challenges facing modern day nuclear physics is understanding the structure of states within the hadronic spectrum of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). We have shown this spectrum to be quite rich with hundreds of allowed states; however, if we wish to better grasp the dynamics of QCD, then it is necessary that we start investigating the internal structure of these states. This may be done by probing these states with external currents, but this requires a description of the intersection of QCD with the electroweak sector. This work acts as a stepping stone in this direction. Working to …

Unearthing The Past: A Comprehensive Study Of Natural And Anthropogenic Changes At An Archaeological Site Through Hydrogeologic Connectivity Utilizing Gis, Mehlich Ii Phosphorus Extractant, And Ph, Dana L. F. Herren

Theses

This thesis aims to thoroughly analyze the Mehlich II Phosphorus Extractant and pH levels at the Bains Gap Village Site in Anniston, AL., while examining the impact of various environmental factors and human activities on them. Phosphorus is often used in archaeology as an indicator of human activity. Soil core samples were collected to analyze anomalies in phosphorus levels.

To establish any relationships, phosphorus and pH levels from soil cores were correlated with findings from past excavation units and features. The potential effects of hydrogeologic connectivity on soil phosphorus and pH levels were investigated. Geospatial technologies were used to manage …

Robot Proficiency Self-Assessment Using Assumption-Alignment Tracking, Xuan Cao

Theses and Dissertations

A robot is proficient if its performance for its task(s) satisfies a specific standard. While the design of autonomous robots often emphasizes such proficiency, another important attribute of autonomous robot systems is their ability to evaluate their own proficiency. A robot should be able to conduct proficiency self-assessment (PSA), i.e. assess how well it can perform a task before, during, and after it has attempted the task. We propose the assumption-alignment tracking (AAT) method, which provides time-indexed assessments of the veracity of robot generators' assumptions, for designing autonomous robots that can effectively evaluate their own performance. AAT can be considered …

Lyraquist: Language Learning Via Music App, Vivian D'Souza, Siri Avula, Mahi Patel, Tanvi Singh, Ashley Bickham

Senior Theses

Lyraquist is a new language learning mobile app that encourages the practice of a foreign language through music. Language learners can connect their Spotify Premium account to Lyraquist to listen to music in their target languages and utilize tools such as translation and vocabulary lists to facilitate language practice. Through integration with Spotify, users can import and create Spotify playlists and search the service’s entire catalog. By combining daily listening habits with several tasks associated with language learning in one place, Lyraquist hopes to be a useful language learning tool.

Combine Shapelets, Zeng Qingwen

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Sensor-based human activity recognition has become an important research field within pervasive and ubiquitous computing. Techniques for recognizing atomic activities such as gestures or actions are mature for now, but complex activity recognition still remains a challenging issue. I was a candidate in an activity classification thesis. It collected 4 activities, which included walking on the sidewalk for a set distance, walking up and down a set of stairs, walking on the treadmill at 2.5 mph for 2 minutes, and jogging on the treadmill at 5.5 mph for 1 minute. It took 30 minutes to collect one candidate data. If …

Kicking Up Dust On Utah's Off-Road Vehicle Trails: Pi-Swerl Assessment Of Anthropogenic Dust Emissions, Wyatt A. Wiebelhaus

Honors Thesis

Upward trends in the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) and the creation of new OHV trails facilitate an increase in soil disturbance and dust emissions in Utah. Anthropogenic destruction of soil crusts and the removal of vegetation by OHVs exposes soil and destroys soil structure, making the soil easier to erode by the wind. We used the PI-SWERL (Portable In Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory) to measure dust concentrations of disturbed and undisturbed soil. We tested soils at several popular OHV areas with landforms composed of sand dunes, playas, and Lake Bonneville sediments. Soil crust strength, grain size, and salinity were …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence For Automated Storytelling In Turn-Based Strategy Games, Timothy Ripper

Theses

This project is inspired by turn-based strategy games, Final Fantasy Tactics, X-Com 2, and modern turn-based strategy games. This project is structured around the use of artificial intelligence for storytelling within strategy games. The focus of this project utilizes artificial intelligence in creating a quest generation system for storytelling. The resulting quest system creates new quests dynamically after communicating with an artificial intelligence allowing players to potentially experience an ever-expanding story from quests

Low Cost Magnetometer Calibration And Distributed Simultaneous Multipoint Ionospheric Measurements From A Sounding Rocket Platform, Joshua W. Milford

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Low-cost and low-size-weight-and-power (SWaP) magnetometers can provide greater accessibility for distributed simultaneous measurements in the ionosphere, either onboard sounding rockets or on CubeSats. The Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has launched a multitude of sounding rockets in recent history: one night-time mid-latitude rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in August 2022 and three mid-latitude rockets from White Sands Missile Range during the October 2023 annular solar eclipse. All rockets had a comprehensive suite of instruments for electrodynamics and neutral dynamics measurements. Among this suite was one science-grade three-axis fluxgate magnetometer (Billingsley TFM65VQS / TFM100G2) and up …

Dynamic Soil-Structure Response And Failure Of Wood Utility Poles Under Hurricane-Force Wind And Non-Linear Cable Loads, Ramani Ayakannu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the outcome of a study of the dynamic soil-structure interaction response of tapered wood utility poles embedded in various foundation soils subject to quasi-static and dynamic wind loads. The study includes the effects of nonlinear soil behavior with varying quantities of moisture and nonlinear cable tension loads on a class H1 wood pole. The natural frequency response of the pole is determined using a finite element formulation. The dynamic response in the presence of wind-induced forcing function is studied using a SAP2000 finite element scheme with wind speeds up to 220 mph. The natural frequency of the …

Time Series Modeling To Ascertain Age In Fisheries Management, Kathleen Sue Kirch

OES Theses and Dissertations

The ability to assign accurate ages of fish is important to fisheries management. Accurate ageing allows for the most reliable age-based models to be used to support sustainability and maximize economic benefit. Structures used to age include bones, scales, and most commonly ear bones (otoliths). Assigning age relies on validating putative annual marks by evaluating accretional material laid down in patterns in fish otoliths, typically by marginal increment analysis. These patterns often take the shape of a sawtooth wave with an abrupt drop in accretion yearly to form an annual band and are typically validated qualitatively. Researchers have shown keen …

Ecology And Conservation Of Diamondback Terrapins In Virginia, Cypress Ambrose

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is the only turtle species native to North America with specific morphological and physiological adaptations to estuarine environments. Along with many other pressures contributing to population declines, terrapins frequently become trapped and drown as bycatch in crab pots used in the commercial and recreational blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fishery. A wealth of evidence supports the use of inexpensive bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) that can be attached to the entrances of these traps, which leads to a marked decrease in terrapin bycatch while not reducing crab catch dramatically. Virginia is the only …

Elevating Academic Administration: A Comprehensive Faculty Dashboard For Tracking Student Evaluations And Research, Musa M. Azeem

Senior Theses

The USC Faculty Dashboard is a web application designed to revolutionize how department heads, professors, and instructors monitor progress and make decisions, providing a centralized hub for efficient data storage and analysis. Currently, there’s a gap in tools tailored for department heads to concisely manage the performance of their department, which our platform aims to fill. The USC Faculty Dashboard offers easy access to upload and view student evaluation and research information, empowering department heads to evaluate the performance of faculty members and seamlessly track their research grants, publications, and expenditures. Furthermore, professors and instructors gain personalized performance analysis tools, …

Synthesis Of An Anti-Lysozyme Antibody Tagged With Gold Or Silver Nanoparticle For Faster Western Blot, Harunobu Kato

Chemistry Senior Theses

Western blot is an important protein analysis assay enabling protein detection by visualizing the antibody specific antigen-antibody interaction. As a commonly used assay, western blot is taught in upper-level biochemistry and molecular biology students. However, due to its exhaustive process and high cost of antibodies, a modification to western blot is proposed using gold or silver nanoparticles as a tag to the primary antibody for lysozyme. In this experiment, invisible anti-lysozyme antibodies were conjugated to colloidal gold and silver nanoparticles via photochemical immobilization technique, effectively facilitating a physically observable band on the western blot. To eliminate false positives by interactions …

On Adaptivity And Randomness For Streaming Algorithms, Manuel Stoeckl

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

A streaming algorithm has a limited amount of memory and reads a long sequence (data stream) of input elements, one by one, and computes an output depending on the input. Such algorithms may be used in an online fashion, producing a sequence of intermediate outputs corresponding to the prefixes of the data stream. Adversarially robust streaming algorithms are required to give correct outputs with a desired probability even when the data stream is adaptively generated by an adversary that can see all intermediate outputs of the algorithm. This thesis binds together research on a variety of problems related to the …

Applications Of Survival Estimation Under Stochastic Order To Cancer: The Three Sample Problem, Sage Vantine

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Stochastic ordering of probability distributions holds various practical applications. However, in real-world scenarios, the empirical survival functions extracted from actual data often fail to meet the requirements of stochastic ordering. Consequently, we must devise methods to estimate these distribution curves in order to satisfy the constraint. In practical applications, such as the investigation of the time of death or the progression of diseases like cancer, we frequently observe that patients with one condition are expected to exhibit a higher likelihood of survival at all time points compared to those with a different condition. Nevertheless, when we attempt to fit a …