Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Estimating Inorganic Carbon Flux From Coal Mining Discharge Portals In The Bituminous Coal Field Region Of Pennsylvania, Lauren J. Rockwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

A fundamental driver of the adverse effects associated with coal mining is the interplay of water and oxygen within mined sites, leading to the creation of coal mine drainage (CMD). One often overlooked consequence of CMD is the release of geologically-bound carbon as carbon dioxide (CO₂). The interaction of CMD with carbonate rocks, specifically the presence of sulfuric acid driving the dissolution of these rocks, leads to the release of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). This study examined 25 CMD locations in an approximately 2,370 km² area within the bituminous coal field region of Pennsylvania (PA), specifically in …

(Non-) Recovery Of An Agricultural Stream From Straightening And Dredging, Aras Anderson Mann

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In recent history, natural, meandering streams have been straightened and dredged to reduce flooding. While this practice can be effective in reducing flooding locally, it often results in the degradation of stream water quality and aquatic ecosystems. A straighter channel inherently increases the stream gradient, which could increase flow velocity, shear stress, and potentially downstream sediment yield. Studies have shown that straightened, channelized streams often begin to return to a meandering pattern 35-50 years post-channelization. Yet cross-sectional surveys and air photo analysis of the stream reach in this study, Deckers Creek, indicate little to no observable trend of the stream …

Modeling The Dynamics Of Radiation Belt Electrons And Ring Current Protons, Xingzhi Lyu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Earth’s inner magnetosphere is a highly dynamic region with various charged particle populations and current systems. The radiation belts, composed of relativistic electrons and protons, is an environment that can pose significant risks to both spacecraft and humans in space; while the fluctuations of ring current, an electric current flowing around the earth consisting of energetic electrons and ions, can lead to severe disruptions in ground-based electrical systems. In this dissertation, we first modeled the long-term evolution of ring current protons based on the measurements of Van Allen Probes. By implementing a 1D radial diffusion model with charge exchange loss, …

Exploring Crystal Polymorphism In Additive-Assisted Chemical Vapor-Deposited Transition Metal Chalcogenides And Oxides, Lawrence Kirimi Mubwika

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Crystal polymorphism is a phenomenon in which compounds with the same chemical formula can be crystallized into different crystal structures. This phenomenon can be observed in elemental materials, such as diamond and graphite, as well as in compounds, such as the trigonal (1H) or octahedral (1T) prismatic MoS₂. Crystals can also exhibit polytypism by stacking different polymorphs in a certain order, with the stacking sequence determining the variation between polytypes. Although all polymorphs and polytypes have the same chemical composition, each polymorph and polytype possesses unique electronic and physical properties.

This study explores the additive-assisted chemical vapor deposition …

C–H Alkylation Of Diol Substrates Using Bifunctional Boronic Acid Catalysts, Matthew Ryan Ross

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Boronic acid catalysts in combination with a Lewis base have been used in previous work to perform site-selective C–H alkylation reactions targeting the α-hydroxy C–H bond of diols through a photoredox activated hydrogen atom transfer. This is done by accessing a tetracoordinate boronic acid – Lewis base complex which then mediates the hydrogen atom transfer. The research hypothesizes that combining the boronic acid and Lewis base into one molecule not only simplifies the reaction but also has the potential to unlock C–H alkylation sites previously inaccessible. This is plausible because the Lewis base portion of the synthesized bifunctional boronic acid …

Reconstructing Δ14c Production Events Using Tree Rings: Does Tree Physiology Affect Estimates Of Atmospheric Δ14c?, Meagan Rory Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Cosmic rays and solar energetic particles (SEP) bombard the Earth’s geomagnetic field, posing a threat to satellites, space stations, and human space exploration. These rays and particles also produce radiocarbon (¹⁴C) in Earth’s atmosphere, thus records of past ¹⁴C concentration in the atmosphere may be indicative of past cosmic and solar activity. Rapid increases in the concentration of atmospheric radiocarbon ¹⁴C, (Miyake events) first identified in tree rings, are thought to be a result of solar eruptive activity triggering the release of solar energetic particles, though the precise nature of past events remains unresolved. The first …

Beam Correction For Multi-Pass Arcs In Ffa@ Cebaf: Status Update, A. Coxe, J. F. Benesch, R.M. Bodenstein, K. E. Deitrick, K. Price, T. Satogata

Physics Faculty Publications

As design and simulation studies for the energy upgrade at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility progress, both static and dynamic errors must be addressed. The current upgrade design introduces a pair of Fixed-Field Alternating-Gradient (FFA) recirculating arcs: one in the East recirculating arc, and one in the West. In the present design, each FFA arc supports six concurrent beam energies in the same beam pipe; these must be concurrently corrected for both static and dynamic errors. This document discusses the present beam correction strategies applied in simulation.

Measuring And Modeling Riparian Wetland Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity, Nutrient Concentrations And Shallow Groundwater Dynamics In An Appalachian Mixed Land Use Catchment, Bidisha Faruque Abesh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The paucity of research on accurate predictions of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), spatiotemporal analysis of nutrient concentrations relative to water source types (stream and shallow groundwater (SGW)), water flow directions, and land use in riparian wetlands of Appalachian mixed land use catchments underscored the need for this study. Additionally, the lack of SGW flow simulations and stream-SGW interactions using three-dimensional (3D) numerical models (i.e., MODFLOW) in these riparian wetlands further highlighted the research gap. Observed data including soil properties, Ksat, surface water (SW) and SGW levels, and nutrient concentrations, including nitrate (NO3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), ammonium (NH4-N), orthophosphate (PO43-P), total nitrogen …

On Confidence And Sense Of Belonging In Cybersecurity Students: Analysis & Prediction, Sadaf Amna Sarwari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of cybersecurity programs across higher education institutions in response to the widening skills gap in the cybersecurity job market. This study adopts quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify factors influencing West Virginia University (WVU)’s LANE Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (LCSEE) students’ confidence and sense of belonging in the cybersecurity field. The results are based on data collected from surveys administered to LCSEE students in April 2022 and April 2023. The responses were analyzed using descriptive & inferential statistics and logistic regression techniques. Additionally, the 2023 data was utilized …

Spiral Wave Teleportation And Multiplex Network Synchronization In Light Sensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky Systems, Shannyn Alicia Tyler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

We experimentally and computationally investigate dynamical behaviors in excitable and oscillatory media using light sensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) systems. These systems are not in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, and have been proven to show various interesting phenomena including spatiotemporal patterns, self-organization, and chaos. We utilize the BZ reaction, a nonlinear chemical reaction, known for its relaxation-type oscillations, to explore the dynamics of these systems.

We examine spiral wave teleportation in an excitable media as an effective alternate defibrillation method. Spiral waves have emerged as a key phenomenon associated with the initiation and persistence of cardiac arrhythmias. Using a light sensitive …

Advanced Techniques In Time Series Forecasting: From Deterministic Models To Deep Learning, Xue Bai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This dissertation discusses three instances of temporal prediction, applied to population dynamics and deep learning.

In population modeling, dynamic processes are frequently represented by systems of differential equations, allowing for the analysis of various phenomena. The first application explores modeling cloned hematopoiesis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) via a nonlinear system of differential equations. By tracking the evolution of different cell compartments, including cycling and quiescent stem cells, progenitor cells, differentiated cells, and terminally differentiated cells, the model captures the transition from normal hematopoiesis to the chronic and accelerated-acute phases of CML. Three distinct non-zero steady states are identified, representing …

Ung: A Diagnostic Standard C Library, Jakob Knute Kaivo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Undefined behavior in C programs is a major source of unreliable software. Many of the most common exploitable software vulnerabilities can be traced directly to undefined behavior. In the increasingly connected world, a successful attack can cost the victim millions of dollars to recover from. While static program analysis aids in identifying undefined behavior, testing indicates that even the best static analysis tools correctly identifies about 35% of these defects. This dissertation introduces UNG’s Not GNU (UNG), a standard C library designed to mitigate undefined behavior. Where others have seen opportunities for optimization, UNG makes every effort to identify undefined …

An Observational Census Of Post-Merger Galaxies And Supermassive Black Hole Pair Evolution, Gregory Walsh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Massive galaxy mergers are a fundamental consequence of the dynamic evolution of the Universe and play a central role in the evolution of galaxies. Because all massive galaxies harbor a central supermassive black hole (SMBH; M ≥ 10⁶ M_⊙), studying these merging systems with electromagnetic (EM) techniques constrains galaxy evolution models and provides a systematic means to examine the astrophysical mechanisms that facilitate the growth of SMBHs. These growing SMBHs are observable across the EM spectrum as Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Massive galaxy mergers are a natural formation mechanism for an SMBH pair, eventually evolving into an …

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 …

Developing Herbal-Based Beverage Fermentation Using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: The Physico-Chemical Properties, Siti Madihah Mohd Don, Mas Munira Rambli, Beston Faiek Nore

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Herbal-based fermented beverages are popular non-dairy products among consumers who seek healthy and immunity-supporting products. Amongst commonly used health supplements that are added to food and beverage would be probiotics, commonly Saccharomyces cerevisiae or yeast. This study aims to determine the physico-chemical properties of fermented beverages at different fermentation periods using lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus DC. Stapf), ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), mint (Mentha), and moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.). This study revealed a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in pH, total soluble solids, and density in most fermented beverages after 24, 36 and 48 hours of fermentation. Low …

Recent Advance In Biodegradable Packaging From Banana Plant Feedstock: A Comprehensive Review, M. Atiq Juani, Namasivayam Navaranjan

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This review focuses on recent advances in biodegradable packaging derived from banana plant waste, highlighting its pivotal role in addressing environmental concerns linked to conventional packaging materials. The shift toward sustainable packaging stems from the urgent need to combat plastic pollution, reduce reliance on non-renewable resources, and foster sustainability in the food industry. Banana plants, known for generating significant organic waste during cultivation and processing, provide a valuable source for developing biodegradable packaging. Researchers have successfully transformed banana waste into innovative, recyclable, and eco-friendly packaging solutions, promoting a circular economy. Biodegradable packaging, in contrast to traditional materials derived from fossil …

Unlocking Antioxidant Potential: Comparative Analysis Of Sembada 188 And Keladi Rice As Functional Ingredients In Novel Food Production, Mas Munira Rambli, Natasha Azamain, Eng-Tong Phuah

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an essential crop that is a dietary staple for more than half of the world's population. There is currently a movement in consumer behaviour toward healthier food consumption, which is fuelling interest in functional diets like coloured rice. Sembada 188 and Keladi rice are underutilised in Brunei Darussalam and are expected to have functional qualities. A comparison of antioxidant properties between Sembada 188 and Keladi rice was performed in this study. This research produced puffed rice treats prepared by steaming rice, washing, drying for 6-8 hours at 60℃, deep frying for 25 seconds at 180℃, …

Assessing The Organic Acids-Solubilized Collagen Derived From The Skin Of Unicornfish (Naso Reticulatus Randall, 2011) On Physicochemical And Structural Characteristics: Toward Alternative Source For Industrial Applications, Dayang Fazrianie Harianto, Abdul Aziz Jaziri, Rossita Shapawi, Ruzaidi Azli Mohd Mokhtar, Wan Norhana Md. Noordin, Masmunira Rambli, Nurul Huda

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Converting skin by-product of unicornfish (Naso reticulatus Randall, 2011) into a valuable commodity like collagen is a good strategy to explore alternative sources for land-based animals. Additionally, marine fish collagens are preferable due to their safer and great properties. This project aimed to compare extractability of collagens prepared with three organic acids (i.e., acetic, lactic and citric acids), and their characteristics were also discussed. Collagen extracted with citric acid (CSCUS) (7.10%) had a significantly higher yield (p

Release Behavior Of Butterfly Pea Anthocyanins From Sago Starch Micro-Composite Films Under Food Stimulants, Afiqah Nabihah Ahmad, Eng Tong Phuah, Namasivayam Navaranjan, Syazana Abdullah Lim

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study investigates the release behaviour of Butterfly Pea (BP) anthocyanins from Sago starch micro-composite (SMC) films in the presence of food stimulants. To comprehensively describe the release profiles of BP from SMC, six well-established kinetic release models were employed which includes Korsmeyer-Peppas, zero-order, first-order, second-order, Higuchi, and Hixson-Crowell models. These models played a crucial role in examining how the release fraction changes over time, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the release kinetics of BP anthocyanins. Our data analysis revealed a strong conformity with the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, suggesting its applicability in describing the release of BP anthocyanins from SMC. The …

Non-Invasive Digital Refractometer To Measure Maturation Of Climacteric Fruits, Jhoorhanah A. Halim, Denni Kurniawan, Dina S. Laila, Allysa Norjemee, Nuur A. L. Nesseruddin, Asrarul A. Noraidi, Beston F. Nore

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Sugar content is a superior quality indicator for the post-harvesting and ripening status of climacteric fruits. Total soluble solids (TSS) represented by °Brix index is a measure of the sugar content. The conventional way to measure TSS is by invasive (IN) technique using manual or digital refractometers. While non-invasive (NIN) infrared refractometer devices have been developed in recent years for various agricultural and food science applications, its accuracy to measure fruit TSS directly is not straightforward, as the device is only dedicated to uses for a specific fruit. This study aims to investigate the suitability of the use of a …

Nanocellulose Synthesized From Sugarcane Bagasse (S. Officinarum) Via Alkaline-Mechanical Process And Its Characterization, Wafiqah Daim, Hiroshi Uyama, Syazana Abdullah Lim

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Nanocellulose is one of many promising materials that have garnered the attention of researchers and industries. In this study, sugarcane bagasse (S. officinarum) was used to synthesize cellulose nanofiber (SB-CNF) via an alkaline-mechanical process. A comprehensive characterization of SB-CNF was conducted to explore its morphology via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic force microscopy (DFM), assess its functional groups using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), analyze its thermal properties through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and lastly, evaluate light absorbance and transmittance using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Our findings revealed that SB-CNF resulted in a highly intertwined nanofiber structure within a nano-scale dimension. …

Protein Content Analysis On Brunei Delicacies: Kelupis Sulang And Sulang Fruit, Siti Nadia Saifullzan, Jhoorhanah A. Halim, Mas M. Rambli, Aida M. Basri

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Traditional Bruneian delicacy which are often reserved for special occasions; called the kelupis Sulang made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and the flesh of the Brunei Sulang fruit’s protein content were studied. The protein content of both kelupis and the sulang fruit were examined using both qualitative and protein concentration analyses. The analysis was performed using the Xanthoproteic test, Ninhydrin test, Sulphur Reduction test, and the Biuret test. The readings were obtained from the UV-Visible Spectrophotometry and revealed an average protein concentration of 21 mg/ml in aqueous extracts of kelupis sulang and 26.8 mg/ml in aqueous suspension of kelupis sulang …

Rice Farmer’S Perception And Factors Influencing Intention And Attitude On Adoption Of Hybrid Rice, Ahmad Mas'oud Muhd Halimi, Ulaganathan Subramanian

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Rice is considered the staple food of Brunei Darussalam, where most rice is imported from different countries. This poses a risk regarding food security wherein an unwanted event of restricted rice importation, Brunei, may experience difficulties. Hybrid rice cultivation is one of Brunei's best food security options. We studied the farmers' attitudes towards mixed rice farming in Brunei. We divided the farmers into two groups for the purpose of our study. Agriculture cooperative members and non-members. For attitude, perceived ease of use positively impacts attitude significantly for member rice farmers, while perceived usefulness positively impacts attitude for non-member rice farmers. …

Innovative Approaches And Challenges In Brunei's Agricultural Management, Nuramalina Manshor, Ulaganathan Subramanian

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The management and development in agriculture attract agricultural economic science for the pricing, business, farm policy, and financial knowledge. It conjointly draws on plant and animal sciences for soil, seed and fertilizer information, weed control, insect management, and rationing and breeding; agricultural engineering knowledge for farmhouses, vehicles, irrigation, field drying, drainage, and management of erosions; and data on human behavior in Science and Social Science.

Direct Blue 86 Textile Dye Removal From Aqueous Solution Using Rice Husk-Based Adsorbent, M. Zulbahari M. Zua, Muhammad Raza Ul Mustafa, Mohamed Hasnain Isa, Teh Sabariah Binti Abd Manan, Naimah Ibrahim, Rozeana Hj Md Juani, Wida Susanty Hj Suhaili, Asmaal Muizz Sallehhin Bin Hj Mohammad Sultan, Zuliana Binti Hj Nayan

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Adsorption by activated carbon is an effective method of dye removal. However, due to high production and regeneration costs of activated carbon, various studies on low-cost adsorbents have been conducted. Agricultural waste such as rice husk (RH) is seen to be a good adsorbent for dye removal. Moreover, rice husk is readily available. In this study, rice husk-based adsorbents were prepared by chemical and thermal treatments. Standard curve (colour vs absorbance) for Direct Blue 86 (DB 86) was prepared to determine the concentration of dye before and after adsorption. The adsorption potential of the adsorbent for textile dye DB 86 …

Thriving In Turbulent Times: The Dynamic Link Between Economic Condition And Fintech Business Lending Success, Nur ‘Asyiqin Ramdhan, Imbarine Bujang, Amirul Afif Muhamat, Ninuk Dewi Kesumaningrum

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study aimed to understand how FinTech business lending was affected by the pandemic crisis, which caused small businesses to struggle with limited access to funds. During this crisis, demand for alternative financing, like peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, surged. However, P2P lending faces challenges related to information imbalances, especially during crises, when transparency and economic conditions impact investor decisions in Malaysia. We examined factors like platform interest rates, loan duration, investment size, bank lending rates (BLR), inflation, and the crisis using ARDL analysis. Our long-term analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between investment size and P2P lending, while economic conditions had …

A Gold Mine: The Importance Of Information And Communication Technology (Ict) On Bank Liquidity In Asia And The Pacific, Sarmila Udin, Imbarine Bujang, Nancy Chiuh Noemi

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Financial systems are the entities in charge of promoting, growing, and enhancing economic growth and development. To be viable in the market, financial institutions must maintain enough liquid assets to meet any unforeseen demand from customers at any time needed. Currently, banks are pursuing cutting-edge technologies to survive and thrive in an ever-changing market environment. This paper aims to examine the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT), macroeconomics and bank liquidity risk in Asia and the Pacific. The research took place between 2012 and 2018 and the nations were chosen based on data availability; as a result, the sample …

The Perspective Of Cash Flow Risks On Earnings Measurement, Daisuke Suzuki, Junpei Yamada, Shoji Kamimura

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The essence of earnings in financial statements is significantly influenced by changes in the economic environment. The main objective of this paper is to elucidate a universal principle capable of explaining any types of earnings measurements. To achieve this, we examine the factors influencing earnings by modeling them from a cash flow perspective. Consequently, this paper directs the attention away from stocks and flows, placing emphasis on the risks inherent in income and expenditure in the context of earnings measurements. It highlights the crucial role of these risks in earnings. Additionally, we illustrate that adjusting these risk tolerances enables the …

Social Media Marketing Audiences And Adaptive Behavior In Brunei: Sem Analysis Using Smartpls, Shahid Anjum, Asmah Ahmad, Jefri Basiuni, Najeeba Tazeen

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The social media and Internet technology penetrations and usage are quite high in Brunei Darussalam. The use of social media marketing among micro, small, and relatively medium businesses to promote their products has also grown as businesses desire to engage and build relationships with customers through social media. This has generated an interest in studying the adaption of social media marketing campaigns among customers, which indirectly determines the effectiveness of social media marketing itself, as well as in studying the facilitation factors for such an adaption. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been used extensively because of its simplicity and usefulness. …

Innovation Barriers Obstructing The Transfer Of Technology From University To Industry In Asean Developing Countries (Case Study On Brunei Darussalam), Rafiq Zaini, Kamariah Ismail

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study aims to explore the barriers of innovation in one of ASEAN developing countries particularly Brunei Darussalam. This research focuses on 3 sectors which are from 1) the government of Brunei to 2) the higher education institutions particularly Universiti Teknologi Brunei to 3) industry sectors in Brunei Darussalam - primarily in the processes of technology transfer. Using the Triple Helix theory model, barriers were identified between consecutive sectors. In this study, qualitative research methods have been utilized (case studies using interview methods) and a total of 9 main barriers have been identified between the sectors from the literature review …