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Articles 31 - 60 of 729
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Exploring The Behavior Repertoire Of A Wireless Vibrationally Actuated Tensegrity Robot, Zongliang Ji
Exploring The Behavior Repertoire Of A Wireless Vibrationally Actuated Tensegrity Robot, Zongliang Ji
Honors Theses
Soft robotics is an emerging field of research due to its potential to explore and operate in unstructured, rugged, and dynamic environments. However, the properties that make soft robots compelling also make them difficult to robustly control. Here at Union, we developed the world’s first wireless soft tensegrity robot. The goal of my thesis is to explore effective and efficient methods to explore the diverse behavior our tensegrity robot. We will achieve that by applying state-of-art machine learning technique and a novelty search algorithm.
Investigating The Urban Stream Syndrome In The Schenectady-Schoharie Region Of Upstate New York, Elizabeth Marie Andonie
Investigating The Urban Stream Syndrome In The Schenectady-Schoharie Region Of Upstate New York, Elizabeth Marie Andonie
Honors Theses
The urban stream syndrome is defined as the typical effects that cities have on watersheds and has been identified in urban regions worldwide. Symptoms include a higher risk of flooding, increased erosion, reduced biodiversity, and elevated concentrations of nutrients and contaminants. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of the urban stream syndrome in and around the Schenectady area. More specifically, this study focuses on two separate aspects: 1) the influx of road salt, and 2) the influx of organic waste. In addition, data were compared with previous data of the same streams to determine changes over …
Geometric Constructions, Origami, And Galois Theory, Julia Greene
Geometric Constructions, Origami, And Galois Theory, Julia Greene
Honors Theses
Geometric constructions using an unmarked straightedge and a compass have been studied for thousands of years. In these constructions, we can draw circles and lines starting with any two points, and we can create new points where they intersect. An n-gon is said to be constructible if can be constructed in a finite number of steps using these guidelines. We begin with constructions of several n-gons, and examine the field theory behind geometric constructions. Galois theory then provides a precise classification of which n-gons are constructible and which are not. Next is an exploration of origami construction, which examines a …
Approximation Of Continuous Functions By Artificial Neural Networks, Zongliang Ji
Approximation Of Continuous Functions By Artificial Neural Networks, Zongliang Ji
Honors Theses
An artificial neural network is a biologically-inspired system that can be trained to perform computations. Recently, techniques from machine learning have trained neural networks to perform a variety of tasks. It can be shown that any continuous function can be approximated by an artificial neural network with arbitrary precision. This is known as the universal approximation theorem. In this thesis, we will introduce neural networks and one of the first versions of this theorem, due to Cybenko. He modeled artificial neural networks using sigmoidal functions and used tools from measure theory and functional analysis.
Category Theory And Universal Property, Niuniu Zhang
Category Theory And Universal Property, Niuniu Zhang
Honors Theses
Category theory unifies and formalizes the mathematical structure and concepts in a way that various areas of interest can be connected. For example, many have learned about the sets and its functions, the vector spaces and its linear transformation, and the group theories and its group homomorphism. Not to mention the similarity of structure in topological spaces, as the continuous function is its mapping. In sum, category theory represents the abstractions of other mathematical concepts. Hence, one could use category theory as a new language to define and simplify the existing mathematical concepts as the universal properties. The goal of …
Synthesis And Characterization Of Organically Modified Hectorites For Sequestration Of Pfaas From Contaminated Drinking Water, Alexandra Pagano
Synthesis And Characterization Of Organically Modified Hectorites For Sequestration Of Pfaas From Contaminated Drinking Water, Alexandra Pagano
Honors Theses
Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs), a family of industrial chemicals, are found in household products such as pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, and non-stick pans. PFAAs of different carbon chain lengths and ionic head groups exist, such as PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid). Used without regulation in industry for decades, PFAAs only recently became recognized as contaminants of emerging concern, since they are bioaccumulative in organisms, persistent in the environment, and toxic. PFAAs are known to accumulate in the blood, liver and kidneys, and drinking water contaminated with PFAAs has been linked to certain types of cancer. Therefore, it …
Optimization Of Superhydrophobic Surface Production Using Ambient-Dried Silica-Based Aerogels, Elizabeth Donlon
Optimization Of Superhydrophobic Surface Production Using Ambient-Dried Silica-Based Aerogels, Elizabeth Donlon
Honors Theses
Superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit particular properties that make them functional in various anti-sticking, anti-contamination, self-cleaning and drag reduction applications. Though such surfaces are found in nature - most notably the lotus leaf - they are difficult to produce. There are numerous methods and techniques for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces. One such method is the sol-gel method, in which aerogel, a highly porous and lightweight material that can be made hydrophobic or superhydrophobic, is coated onto a surface. The purpose of this project is to devise a simple and repeatable procedure for making hydrophobic silica aerogel coatings that can be used for drag …
Petrology And Thermodynamic Modeling Of Amphibolite Facies Rocks Of The Blåhø Nappe Of The Middle Allochthon, Scandinavian Caledonides In Norway, Maria Van Nostrand
Petrology And Thermodynamic Modeling Of Amphibolite Facies Rocks Of The Blåhø Nappe Of The Middle Allochthon, Scandinavian Caledonides In Norway, Maria Van Nostrand
Honors Theses
The Scandinavian Caledonides are an orogenic belt formed when Baltica collided with Laurentia during the late Silurian to early Devonian (Scandian, ~426–390 Ma, Gee et al., 2008). The thrust sheets forming the belt are divided into the Lower, Middle, Upper, and Uppermost Allochthons derived, respectively, from the Baltican margin and regions progressively farther outboard. This study focuses on the Blåhø Nappe, part of the Middle Allochthon, which is generally presumed to have been from an Early Paleozoic volcanic arc off the Baltican margin. The Blåhø Nappe contains abundant igneous and sedimentary rocks, metamorphosed almost entirely at amphibolite facies, but contains …
Environmental Clearinghouse Of Schenectady, Kate Van Patten
Environmental Clearinghouse Of Schenectady, Kate Van Patten
Honors Theses
This paper analyses Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady, a local nonprofit environmental organization. The paper investigates the history of the organization as well as the effectiveness of its organizational and funding habits. A literary review was conducted to analyze the success of ECOS mission as well as the positive effects ECOS has on society using elements such as environmental education, the importance of early environmental education, how well the organization connects urban residents with the outdoors and the effectiveness of environmental programs. This research promotes the importance of early environmental education on our future generations health and environmental conditions. Additionally, through …
Iterated Local Search Algorithms For Bike Route Generation, Aidan Pieper
Iterated Local Search Algorithms For Bike Route Generation, Aidan Pieper
Honors Theses
Planning routes for recreational cyclists is challenging because they prefer longer more scenic routes, not the shortest one. This problem can be modeled as an instance of the Arc Orienteering Problem (AOP), a known NP-Hard optimization problem. Because no known algorithms exist to solve this optimization problem efficiently, we solve the AOP using heuristic algorithms which trade accuracy for speed. We implement and evaluate two different Iterated Local Search (ILS) heuristic algorithms using an open source routing engine called GraphHopper and the OpenStreetMap data set. We propose ILS variants which our experimental results show can produce better routes at the …
2018 Ieee Signal Processing Cup: Forensic Camera Model Identification Challenge, Michael Geiger
2018 Ieee Signal Processing Cup: Forensic Camera Model Identification Challenge, Michael Geiger
Honors Theses
The goal of this Senior Capstone Project was to lead Union College’s first ever Signal Processing Cup Team to compete in IEEE’s 2018 Signal Processing Cup Competition. This year’s competition was a forensic camera model identification challenge and was divided into two separate stages of competition: Open Competition and Final Competition. Participation in the Open Competition was open to any teams of undergraduate students, but the Final Competition was only open to the three finalists from Open Competition and is scheduled to be held at ICASSP 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Teams that make it to the Final Competition will …
Optimizing Tensegrity Gaits Using Bayesian Optimization, James Boggs
Optimizing Tensegrity Gaits Using Bayesian Optimization, James Boggs
Honors Theses
We design and implement a new, modular, more complex tensegrity robot featuring data collection and wireless communication and operation as well as necessary accompanying research infrastructure. We then utilize this new tensegrity to assess previous research on using Bayesian optimization to generate effective forward gaits for tensegrity robots. Ultimately, we affirm the conclusions of previous researchers, demonstrating that Bayesian optimization is statistically significantly (p < 0:05) more effective at discovering useful gaits than random search. We also identify several flaws in our new system and identify means of addressing them, paving the way for more effective future research.
Galois Theory And The Quintic Equation, Yunye Jiang
Galois Theory And The Quintic Equation, Yunye Jiang
Honors Theses
Most students know the quadratic formula for the solution of the general quadratic polynomial in terms of its coefficients. There are also similar formulas for solutions of the general cubic and quartic polynomials. In these three cases, the roots can be expressed in terms of the coefficients using only basic algebra and radicals. We then say that the general quadratic, cubic, and quartic polynomials are solvable by radicals. The question then becomes: Is the general quintic polynomial solvable by radicals? Abel was the first to prove that it is not. In turn, Galois provided a general method of determining when …
Characterization Of Glacial Sediments From A 700,000-Year-Old Lake Junín Drill Core, Tshering Lama Sherpa
Characterization Of Glacial Sediments From A 700,000-Year-Old Lake Junín Drill Core, Tshering Lama Sherpa
Honors Theses
Lake Junín (11.0°S, 76.2°W) is an intermontane lake at an elevation of 4085 masl in Junín, Peru. The lake spans ~300 km2 and has a water depth of ~12m. It is dammed at its northern and southern ends by glacial alluvial fans that have been dated >250 ka, indicating that the lake is at least this old. Lake Junín has never been overridden by ice in the past 1 million years making it one of the few lakes in the tropical Andes that predates the last maximum extent of glaciation and has a continuous record of waxing and waning of …
Elementary Computational Fluid Dynamics Using Finite-Difference Methods, Jason Turner, Scott Labrake
Elementary Computational Fluid Dynamics Using Finite-Difference Methods, Jason Turner, Scott Labrake
Honors Theses
Fluids permeate all of human existence, and fluid dynamics serves as a rich field of research for many physicists. Although the mathematics involved in studying fluids tends to get complicated, the physical intuition gained through daily exposure to such systems bridges the gap between abstract calculations and their physical meaning. We discuss the mathematical treatment and simulations of fluid flows found in everyday life, such as flow in a cavity and through a pipe. Our discussions follow the example set by several notable texts, referenced in the document.
An Empirical Analysis Of Climatic, Geographic, And Cultural Determinants Of International Tourism, Ethan Straus
An Empirical Analysis Of Climatic, Geographic, And Cultural Determinants Of International Tourism, Ethan Straus
Honors Theses
Each year, billions of people visit different countries all around the world. For many of those countries, tourism is their primary industry, leading to millions of jobs and dollars in revenue. It is expected that by 2020 total International Tourism Receipts will reach 2 trillion US dollars annually. Currently, tourism employs an estimated 200 million people around the world. With the continued progression of climate change, the tourism industry is facing a newfound threat. Global temperatures and the seal level are both expected to rise significantly by the end of the century. Additionally, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has …
Introduction To Computational Topology Using Simplicial Persistent Homology, Jason Turner, Brenda Johnson, Ellen Gasparovic
Introduction To Computational Topology Using Simplicial Persistent Homology, Jason Turner, Brenda Johnson, Ellen Gasparovic
Honors Theses
The human mind has a natural talent for finding patterns and shapes in nature where there are none, such as constellations among the stars. Persistent homology serves as a mathematical tool for accomplishing the same task in a more formal setting, taking in a cloud of individual points and assembling them into a coherent continuous image. We present an introduction to computational topology as well as persistent homology, and use them to analyze configurations of BuckyBalls®, small magnetic balls commonly used as desk toys.
A Better Way To Construct Tensegrities: Planar Embeddings Inform Tensegrity Assembly, Elizabeth Anne Ricci
A Better Way To Construct Tensegrities: Planar Embeddings Inform Tensegrity Assembly, Elizabeth Anne Ricci
Honors Theses
Although seemingly simple, tensegrity structures are complex in nature which makes them both ideal for use in robotics and difficult to construct. We work to develop a protocol for constructing tensegrities more easily. We consider attaching a tensegrity's springs to the appropriate locations on some planar arrangement of attached struts. Once all of the elements of the structure are connected, we release the struts and allow the tensegrity to find its equilibrium position. This will allow for more rapid tensegrity construction. We develop a black-box that given some tensegrity returns a flat-pack, or the information needed to perform this physical …
The Axiom Of Choice In Topology, Ruoxuan Jia
The Axiom Of Choice In Topology, Ruoxuan Jia
Honors Theses
Cantor believed that properties holding for finite sets might also hold for infinite sets. One such property involves choices; the Axiom of Choice states that we can always form a set by choosing one element from each set in a collection of pairwise disjoint non-empty sets. Since its introduction in 1904, this seemingly simple statement has been somewhat controversial because it is magically powerful in mathematics in general and topology in particular. In this paper, we will discuss some essential concepts in topology such as compactness and continuity, how special topologies such as the product topology and compactification are defined, …
Comparative Analysis Of Drosophila Athabasca Cuticular Hydrocarbons For Generation Of Synthetic Material To Study Evolutionary Implications, Brittany Gay
Honors Theses
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have been studied extensively and their roles explored for various species of insects. However, only a single reported study has focused on the role of CHCs in Drosophila athabasca, a species of fruit fly native to North America. The work herein describes advances in identification, synthesis and quantification of biologically relevant CHCs present in this species. Identifying CHC profile differences among D. athabasca sub-races (Eastern A, Eastern B and WestNorthern) was performed using multiple analytical techniques. Synthesis of proposed structures confirmed their identity. External standard curves were used to quantify CHCs. GC-MS analysis of CHCs from several …
New York State's Zero Emission Credits: Exploring The Drivers And Significance Of Nuclear Energy Subsidization In The Empire State, Michael R. Sciascia
New York State's Zero Emission Credits: Exploring The Drivers And Significance Of Nuclear Energy Subsidization In The Empire State, Michael R. Sciascia
Honors Theses
This thesis reviews New York State's recently announced subsidization of nuclear energy, which has been a subject of dissent due to its cost, propagation of nuclear activity, and potential unlawfulness in its influence on competition within wholesale energy markets. Examining the structure and recent trends within New York's energy market and their effect on the state's nuclear energy industry will provide insight into the necessity of such subsidization in preserving in-state nuclear generation. Through an analysis of the expected costs, economic impact, and influence on statewide carbon emissions, the true significance of this legislation and New York's motivations behind its …
Attracting Human Attention Using Robotic Facial Expressions And Gestures, Venus Yu
Attracting Human Attention Using Robotic Facial Expressions And Gestures, Venus Yu
Honors Theses
Robots will soon interact with humans in settings outside of a lab. Since it will be likely that their bodies will not be as developed as their programming, they will not have the complex limbs needed to perform simple tasks. Thus they will need to seek human assistance by asking them for help appropriately. But how will these robots know how to act? This research will focus on the specific nonverbal behaviors a robot could use to attract someone’s attention and convince them to interact with the robot. In particular, it will need the correct facial expressions and gestures to …
A Systematic Investigation Of The Effects Of Chain Length And Ionic Head Group On Perfluoroalkyl Acid Binding To Human Serum Albumin, Jake Ulrich
Honors Theses
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are industrial chemicals used in everyday products ranging from non-stick coatings to fire-fighting foam. PFAAs are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and are bioaccumulative, persistent and toxic. Unlike other CECs, PFAAs bioaccumulate in areas of high protein concentration, such as the kidneys, liver and blood; therefore, it is vital to study PFAA-protein interactions. Human Serum Albumin (HSA) is the model protein used for PFAA-protein studies because it is the most abundant protein in the human body and it binds and transports endogenous and exogenous ligands. Previously, researchers have investigated PFAA-HSA binding, but most of these studies have …
Choice Of Choice: Paradoxical Results Surrounding Of The Axiom Of Choice, Connor Hurley
Choice Of Choice: Paradoxical Results Surrounding Of The Axiom Of Choice, Connor Hurley
Honors Theses
When people think of mathematics they think "right or wrong," "empirically correct" or "empirically incorrect." Formalized logically valid arguments are one important step to achieving this definitive answer; however, what about the underlying assumptions to the argument? In the early 20th century, mathematicians set out to formalize these assumptions, which in mathematics are known as axioms. The most common of these axiomatic systems was the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms. The standard axioms in this system were accepted by mathematicians as obvious, and deemed by some to be sufficiently powerful to prove all the intuitive theorems already known to mathematicians. However, this system …
Impact Of The Nuclear Phase-Out In Germany: Examining The Costs And Benefits Of Aggresive Energy Policy In Relation To A Sustainable Future, David M. Olio
Honors Theses
The German nuclear phase-out legislation of 2011 will cause substantial changes in the country's energy mix, energy generation and electricity grid demands. The phase-out exists as part of the Energiewende, or energy transition, occurring in Germany where renewable energy has been subsidized to replace the share of nuclear energy, which is decreasing annually and moving towards a complete phase-out in 2022. This paper will analyze the benefits and costs of Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power. First, it will explore the dynamic history of German energy policy and discuss how a history of anti-nuclear sentiments led to the nuclear …
Effective Ann Topologies For Use As Genotypes For Evaluating Design And Fabrication, John R. Peterson
Effective Ann Topologies For Use As Genotypes For Evaluating Design And Fabrication, John R. Peterson
Honors Theses
There is promise in the field of Evolutionary Design for systems that evolve not only what to manufacture but also how to manufacture it. EvoFab is a system that uses Genetic Algorithms to evolve Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) which control a modified 3d-printer with the goal of automating some level of invention. ANNs are an obvious choice for use with a system like this as they are canonically evolvable encodings, and have been successfully used as evolved control systems in Evolutionary Robotics. However, there is little known about how the structural characteristics of an ANN affect the shapes that can …
Bitcoin Volatility And Currency Acceptance: A Time-Series Approach, Francis Rocco
Bitcoin Volatility And Currency Acceptance: A Time-Series Approach, Francis Rocco
Honors Theses
Virtual currencies emerged in 2009 as alternatives to traditional methods of payment, offering faster transaction speeds and increased privacy. The prime example of these currencies is Bitcoin. Prior literature in the past five years has generally predicted that bitcoin would fail to supplant an existing widely traded currency, but the volatility of the currency has been decreasing since then. I test Dowd and Greenaway’s (1993) currency acceptance model using recent data on Bitcoin, including Bitcoin volatility. This paper will show whether Bitcoin's ability to act as a store of value and its level of price volatility affect the number of …
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Honors Theses
Invasive species are recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding what factors facilitate invasion is of great conservation value, as this will allow for more specific and targeted conservation efforts related to non-native species. Knowledge of factors that contribute to invasion play an important role in conservation of particularly unique habitats, such as the iconic United States National Parks. Though National Parks have some legal protections against some forms of habitat degradation, they are still vulnerable to the introduction of non-natives. The purpose of this study is to characterize species invasion in National Parks and identify what environmental conditions …
An Investigation Of The Four Vertex Theorem And Its Converse, Rebeka Kelmar
An Investigation Of The Four Vertex Theorem And Its Converse, Rebeka Kelmar
Honors Theses
In the study of curves there are many interesting theorems. One such theorem is the four vertex theorem and its converse. The four vertex theorem says that any simple closed curve, other than a circle, must have four vertices. This means that the curvature of the curve must have at least four local maxima/minima. In my project I explore different proofs of the four vertex theorem and its history. I also look at a modified converse of the four vertex theorem which says that any continuous real- valued function on the circle that has at least two local maxima and …
Elliptic Curve Cryptology, Francis Rocco
Elliptic Curve Cryptology, Francis Rocco
Honors Theses
In today's digital age of conducting large portions of daily life over the Internet, privacy in communication is challenged extremely frequently and confidential information has become a valuable commodity. Even with the use of commonly employed encryption practices, private information is often revealed to attackers. This issue motivates the discussion of cryptology, the study of confidential transmissions over insecure channels, which is divided into two branches of cryptography and cryptanalysis. In this paper, we will first develop a foundation to understand cryptography and send confidential transmissions among mutual parties. Next, we will provide an expository analysis of elliptic curves and …