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MSU Graduate Theses

Theses/Dissertations

2018

Articles 1 - 22 of 22

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Diamond Intracrystalline Stable Isotope Chemical Image Analysis By Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometery, Tyler J. Sundell Dec 2018

Diamond Intracrystalline Stable Isotope Chemical Image Analysis By Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometery, Tyler J. Sundell

MSU Graduate Theses

The chemical resistance of diamond allows in-situ study of the diamond source regions. For a majority of gem quality diamonds, this source region is the sublithospheric mantle keel of a cratonic nuclei. Through analysis of stable isotopes, radiogenic isotopes and trace elements, diamond geochemical analyses can define chemical fluxes in the mantle keel. However, such studies require multiple methodologies for each chemical suite, high spatial resolution and analytical precision. Here, I evaluate Time-of-Flight Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometer (ToF-SIMS) as an alternative method for diamond geochemical analyses. ToF-SIMS analysis can perform in cation and anion mode to measure the entire periodic …

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An Adaptive Memory-Based Reinforcement Learning Controller, Keith August Cissell Dec 2018

An Adaptive Memory-Based Reinforcement Learning Controller, Keith August Cissell

MSU Graduate Theses

Recently, the use of autonomous robots for exploration has drastically expanded--largely due to innovations in both hardware technology and the development of new artificial intelligence methods. The wide variety of robotic agents and operating environments has led to the creation of many unique control strategies that cater to each specific agent and their goal within an environment. Most control strategies are single purpose, meaning they are built from the ground up for each given operation. Here we present a single, reinforcement learning control solution for autonomous exploration intended to work across multiple agent types, goals, and environments. The solution presented …

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Modeling The Response Of Black Walnut -Dominant Mixed Hardwoods To Seasonal Climate Effects With Uav-Based Hyperspectral Sensor And Aerial Photogrammetry, Tyler G. Bradford Dec 2018

Modeling The Response Of Black Walnut -Dominant Mixed Hardwoods To Seasonal Climate Effects With Uav-Based Hyperspectral Sensor And Aerial Photogrammetry, Tyler G. Bradford

MSU Graduate Theses

The development of compact sensors in recent years has inspired the use of UAS-based hyperspectral and aerial imaging techniques for small-scale remote sensing applications. With increasing concerns about climate change, spectrally-derived vegetation indices (VIs) have proven useful for quantifying stress-induced vegetation response. The goal of this study was to develop predictive models and assess methodology for modeling the biological response of a black walnut -dominant mixed hardwood stand to seasonal climate events using UAV-based hyperspectral remote-sensing. The derived VIs were evaluated against the means of four seasonal measures of climate calculated for a two-week period prior to the flight date. …

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Development Of Rapid, Homogeneous Assay For Investigating Isopeptide Bond Formation Using Fluorescence Polarization/Depolarization Measurements, Samuel Patricc Kasson Aug 2018

Development Of Rapid, Homogeneous Assay For Investigating Isopeptide Bond Formation Using Fluorescence Polarization/Depolarization Measurements, Samuel Patricc Kasson

MSU Graduate Theses

Autocatalytic intramolecular isopeptide bonds have been found in nature in certain gram-positive bacterial pilus structures. Recently, splitting of these domains that are capable of autocatalytic intramolecular isopeptide bond formation have been applied to create stable, selective, bio-orthogonal Catcher/Tag systems. The CnaB2 domain found in the FbaB pilus structure of Streptococcus pyogenes, has yielded the Catcher/Tag, Protein/Peptide systems termed SpyCatchter and SpyTag. Recent study has focused on tag optimization, stability and bio-orthogonality evaluation, along with applications in bioconjugation. I have recombinantly expressed SpyCatcher and SpyTag-fused proteins in E.coli, and conjugated them to fluorescent probes in order for use in fluorescence polarization/depolarization …

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Nmr Spectroscopic Properties Of Nucleotides, And A New Method Of Numeric Calculation Of Raman Intensities For Organic Molecules, William R. Ehrhardt Aug 2018

Nmr Spectroscopic Properties Of Nucleotides, And A New Method Of Numeric Calculation Of Raman Intensities For Organic Molecules, William R. Ehrhardt

MSU Graduate Theses

General and accurate computational methodologies are currently lacking for large chemical systems. This is primarily due to the computational expense required to perform calculations on systems with one hundred or more atoms. Calculated spectroscopic properties could aid in the process of elucidating structural features of large biologically relevant molecules if accurate and inexpensive methods are developed. Towards this end the first steps were taken to design a general methodology for predicting NMR chemical shifts of large nucleic acid systems. It was found that HF and semi-empirical methods were not sufficient for optimization of nucleobases, and therefore larger nucleotide or nucleic …

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Learning Chemistry In English: Challenges Faced By Non-Native English Speakers, Arwa A. Alshehri Aug 2018

Learning Chemistry In English: Challenges Faced By Non-Native English Speakers, Arwa A. Alshehri

MSU Graduate Theses

Every year many international students come to study in the United States. In addition to all the challenges associated with coming to a new country, non-native English speakers (NNES) face the additional challenge of having to learn their content in English. Therefore, in this project, I recruited NNES participants from general chemistry courses since preliminary inquiries indicated that they have the largest enrollments. Because there were relatively few students at MSU who are non-native English speakers studying chemistry, I used a case study design to be able to extract generalizations from an in-depth study of a few individuals. The aim …

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Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications Of Ammonium/Phosphonium Chitosan Derivatives For Investigative Dna Interactions, Quinton Kirk Wyatt Aug 2018

Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications Of Ammonium/Phosphonium Chitosan Derivatives For Investigative Dna Interactions, Quinton Kirk Wyatt

MSU Graduate Theses

Chitosan is examined as a non-viral vector capable of efficient gene delivery due to its favorable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and is non-toxic to mammalian cells. Cell modifications and vector permeability are enhanced in non-viral vectors that incorporate electrostatic interactions. This work synthesizes cationic (N+, P+) chitosan derivatives, to enhance electrostatic interactions towards nucleotides, using amide coupling agents EDC and HOBt. The final chitosan derivatives will bear cationic functional groups (N+, P+) with various alkyl groups (Me, Et, Pr, Ph) to examine their affinities to nucleotides and antifungal properties. mPEG grafted …

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Synthesis And Characterization Of Block Copolymers For Shear Force Responsive Materials And Sugar Conjugated Fluorescent Probes, Jacob Ryan Blankenship Aug 2018

Synthesis And Characterization Of Block Copolymers For Shear Force Responsive Materials And Sugar Conjugated Fluorescent Probes, Jacob Ryan Blankenship

MSU Graduate Theses

Herein, I present my work towards two goals: shear force-responsive materials and sugarconjugated fluorescent probes for bacterial identification applications. The first work is on the development of stimuli-responsive polymers that allow for precise control over the release of encapsulated material. Stimuli-responsive polymers are becoming increasingly important in drug delivery and other applications. However there have been few reports on shear force-responsive micellar systems. I show the synthesis, and characterization by 1H and 13C NMR of four macro-chain transfer agents (macro-CTAs), one of which has not been previously reported. The resulting macro-CTAs were used in polymerization of vinyl acetate …

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Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Mining-Related Lead-Zinc Sediment Contamination, Galena River Watershed, Sw Wisconsin-Nw Illinois, Dylan Alexander King Aug 2018

Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Mining-Related Lead-Zinc Sediment Contamination, Galena River Watershed, Sw Wisconsin-Nw Illinois, Dylan Alexander King

MSU Graduate Theses

Alluvial sediments within the Galena River Watershed were severely contaminated with heavy metals by historical zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) mining operations during the early 1800s until 1979. Since the mines closed, there have been efforts to remediate on-site mine waste. However, the effectiveness of these efforts to reduce metal concentrations in stream sediments is unknown. This study compares present-day (2017) contamination trends in the Galena River Watershed to trends reported 25 years ago. A total of 415 sediment/soil samples were collected and analyzed using X-ray florescence spectrometry to determine sediment metal concentrations. The highest concentrations of zinc measured were …

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Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Of Transition Metal Octaethylporphyrin And Tetraphenylporphyrin/Tri-N-Propylamine System, Jamie Lee Gray Aug 2018

Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Of Transition Metal Octaethylporphyrin And Tetraphenylporphyrin/Tri-N-Propylamine System, Jamie Lee Gray

MSU Graduate Theses

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of octaethylporphyrin (OEP), tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and a series of metal-ligand porphyrin complexes (Zinc, Copper, Palladium, Platinum, Ruthenium, Vanadium, Cobalt and Nickel) in CH2Cl2 is reported. ECL was generated upon sweep to positive potentials using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as an oxidative-reductive coreactant. ECL efficiencies were between 0.010 and 0.770 using Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 (bpy = 2,2’-bpyridine) as a relative standard (ecl = 1). The ECL intensity peaks at a potential corresponding to oxidation of the complexes and TPrA, suggesting that the same excited states are formed in both photoluminescence and ECL. Although the ECL was weaker than corresponding PL efficiencies, …

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Nutrient Transport And Storage In A Karst Spring-Reservoir System During Baseflow, Missouri Ozarks, Heather A. Moule Aug 2018

Nutrient Transport And Storage In A Karst Spring-Reservoir System During Baseflow, Missouri Ozarks, Heather A. Moule

MSU Graduate Theses

Urban and agricultural land uses are important sources of nitrogen and phosphorus which, if in excess, can cause eutrophication in lakes and rivers. There have been few studies of nutrient transport and storage in karst spring and reservoir connected stream systems draining the Missouri Ozarks. This study aims to link the baseflow nutrient contributions of Sanders Spring to downstream reservoir outflow and the Headwaters South Dry Sac River Watershed in Springfield, Missouri. Water samples were collected seasonally and analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and several other water quality parameters. Discharge was also monitored to calculate water and …

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Comparing Three Pulsating Subdwarf B Stars Observed By Kepler In The Open Cluster Ngc 6791, Joshua William Kern May 2018

Comparing Three Pulsating Subdwarf B Stars Observed By Kepler In The Open Cluster Ngc 6791, Joshua William Kern

MSU Graduate Theses

Using their entire Kepler data sets, I performed asteroseismic analyses and comparisons of three gravity (g-) mode pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) stars in the open cluster NGC 6791. I constructed light curves with a combination of long and short cadence data to span quarters 1 (Q01) through Q17 of KIC 2569576 (B3), KIC 2438324 (B4), and KIC 2437937 (B5). Rotationally induced g-mode frequency splittings were observed in each star allowing us to calculate rotation periods of 64.5 ± 8.2, 9.21 ± 0.18, and 91.3 ± 14.1 days for B3, B4, and B5, respectively. Using the observed ratio of the azimuthal …

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Computational Study Of Lawesson’S Reagent Mediated Fluorenone Dimerization Forming 9,9’-Bifluorenylidene, Andrew Jourdan Eckelmann May 2018

Computational Study Of Lawesson’S Reagent Mediated Fluorenone Dimerization Forming 9,9’-Bifluorenylidene, Andrew Jourdan Eckelmann

MSU Graduate Theses

The ambition of this work is to start a path to the a priori rational design of high yield production for electron acceptors with finely tuned band gaps, from the comfort of an armchair. To this end, organic photovoltaics offer a cheap and sustainable means of manufacture using readily available materials and avoids the toxicity of some of the heavy metals used in first and second-generation solar cells such as cadmium. The microwave assisted Lawesson’s reagent mediated one-pot one-step solventless synthesis takes less than 3 minutes and results in an 84% yield of 9,9’-bifluorenylidene from two equivalents of fluorenone. While …

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Geology Of The Purgatory Saddle 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, And Gravity And Magnetic Analysis Of Accreted Terrane Boundary, Western Idaho, Sourav Krishna Nandi May 2018

Geology Of The Purgatory Saddle 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, And Gravity And Magnetic Analysis Of Accreted Terrane Boundary, Western Idaho, Sourav Krishna Nandi

MSU Graduate Theses

Western Idaho (USA) contains deformation associated with the Mesozoic accretion of volcanic island arc terranes of the Blue Mountains Province to Laurentia. The near vertical boundary between the accretionary orogeny and Precambrian North America is represented by the transpressional western Idaho shear zone, which lies east of metamorphic rocks in the Salmon River suture zone. The Blue Mountains Province in western Idaho contains four accreted crustal blocks: the Wallowa, Olds Ferry, Baker, and Izee terranes. The purpose of this study is to understand the structural relationship of the pre-accretionary, syn-accretionary and post-accretionary tectonic features along the accreted terrane boundary in …

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Regional Stratigraphy And Distribution Of The Coastal Group, St. Elizabeth Parish, Southwestern Jamaica, Brett M. Kenning May 2018

Regional Stratigraphy And Distribution Of The Coastal Group, St. Elizabeth Parish, Southwestern Jamaica, Brett M. Kenning

MSU Graduate Theses

This contribution examines the characteristics and ages of sedimentary units in the Coastal Group located along the southwestern Jamaica coast between Great Pedro Bluff and Fort Charles Bay in southwestern St. Elizabeth Parish. The coastline is characterized by laterally discontinuous low cliff exposures, separated by modern beach deposits and tectonically raised shore platforms composed of the White Limestone Group (mid-Eocene to mid-Miocene) and coral rudstone to floatstone and calcareous sandstone of the Coastal Group (late Pleistocene). Electron-Spin Resonance spectroscopy conducted on corals collected from a coral rudstone to floatstone facies yielded an estimated age of 120 ka. The coral facies …

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Energy Calculations And Wave Equations, Ellen R. Hunter May 2018

Energy Calculations And Wave Equations, Ellen R. Hunter

MSU Graduate Theses

The focus of this thesis is to show how methods of Fourier analysis, in particular Parseval’s equality, can be used to provide explicit energy calculations for solutions of wave equations in one dimension. These calculations are discussed for simple examples and then extended to fit the general wave equation with Robin boundary conditions. Ideas from Sobolev space theory are used to provide justification of the method.

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Affine And Projective Planes, Abraham Pascoe May 2018

Affine And Projective Planes, Abraham Pascoe

MSU Graduate Theses

In this thesis, we investigate affine and projective geometries. An affine geometry is an incidence geometry where for every line and every point not incident to it, there is a unique line parallel to the given line. Affine geometry is a generalization of the Euclidean geometry studied in high school. A projective geometry is an incidence geometry where every pair of lines meet. We study basic properties of affine and projective planes and a number of methods of constructing them. We end by prov- ing the Bruck-Ryser Theorem on the non-existence of projective planes of certain orders.

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Crustal Structure Of The Bhutanese Himalaya: New Insights From A Gravity Analysis In Western And Central Bhutan, Kinzang Duba May 2018

Crustal Structure Of The Bhutanese Himalaya: New Insights From A Gravity Analysis In Western And Central Bhutan, Kinzang Duba

MSU Graduate Theses

To expand the current understanding of lithospheric structure within Bhutan Himalaya, a detailed gravity survey was conducted for the first time along the all major roads within western and central Bhutan in 2015-2017. The acquired Bouguer gravity anomaly data were analyzed and interpreted using map methods (wavelength filtering and Euler deconvolution) which clearly indicate that there are substantial anomalies due to crustal density sources and a complex Himalayan geology. Four two-dimensional gravity models across the Himalayan tectonostratigraphic units were constructed to determine the crustal density structure using constraints from the geological and geophysical studies. The results support that the long …

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The Average Measure Of A K-Dimensional Simplex In An N-Cube, John A. Carter May 2018

The Average Measure Of A K-Dimensional Simplex In An N-Cube, John A. Carter

MSU Graduate Theses

Within an n-dimensional unit cube, a number of k-dimensional simplices can be formed whose vertices are the vertices of the n-cube. In this thesis, we analyze the average measure of a k-simplex in the n-cube. We develop exact equations for the average measure when k = 1, 2, and 3. Then we generate data for these cases and conjecture that their averages appear to approach nk/2 times some constant. Using the convergence of Bernstein polynomials and a k-simplex Bernstein generalization, we prove the conjecture is true for the 1-simplex and 2-simplex cases. We then develop a generalized formula for …

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Chemical And Statistical Analysis Of Karst Groundwater Basin Signatures - Springfield, Mo, Benjamin E. Lockwood May 2018

Chemical And Statistical Analysis Of Karst Groundwater Basin Signatures - Springfield, Mo, Benjamin E. Lockwood

MSU Graduate Theses

Springfield, MO is located on the Springfield Plateau physiographic province. The Springfield plateau contains a number of Mississippian aged units and is mainly capped by the Burlington-Keokuk Formation. The Burlington-Keokuk is a highly fossiliferous limestone with nodular and interbedded chert. Beneath the Burlington-Keokuk lies the Elsey, Reeds Spring, and Pierson Formations respectively which comprise the Springfield Plateau aquifer hydrostratigraphic unit. Within the Springfield Plateau aquifer, a well-developed karst system includes springs, sinkholes, and caves. The Springfield Plateau aquifer is the predominant source for springs and seeps in the Springfield area. The purpose of this study was to understand the differences …

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Magnetic Anisotropy And Exchange Bias In L10 Fept/Nio Bilayer Thin Films, Zachary B. Leuty May 2018

Magnetic Anisotropy And Exchange Bias In L10 Fept/Nio Bilayer Thin Films, Zachary B. Leuty

MSU Graduate Theses

Perpendicular exchange bias (PEB), particularly when it persists in nanomaterials to room temperature, is highly useful for applications in spintronic devices and for advancing the development of high-information-density magnetic random access memory. A complete mechanistic and theoretical understanding of exchange bias has evaded scientists. The quest to discover novel materials for magnetic and spintronic device applications has stimulated investigation into nanomaterials having optimal and/or tailored magnetic properties that are based on the exchange bias effect. In this study, pulsed laser deposition was used to grow epitaxial PEB systems of ferromagnetic FePt thin film layers that are interfaced with antiferromagnetic NiO …

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Block-Copolymer Assisted Fabrication Of Anisotropic Plasmonic Nanostructures, Calbi J. Gunder Jan 2018

Block-Copolymer Assisted Fabrication Of Anisotropic Plasmonic Nanostructures, Calbi J. Gunder

MSU Graduate Theses

The anisotropic nanostructures of noble metals are of great interest for plasmonic applications due to the possibility of tuning the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) across the UV-VIS-NIR without sacrificing the linewidth as well as to achieve larger local field enhancement. Here, we report a simple and promising fabrication method of anisotropic gold nanostructures film using polystyrene-b-2vinylpyridine (PS-b-P2VP) block copolymers (BCP) as a template. In this approach, PS-b-P2VP spherical micelles were first synthesized as a template followed by selective deposition of Au precursor inside P2VP core of the micelles using ethanol solution of Au salt. Subsequently, heat treatment of the …

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