Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Using Reservoir Computing To Build A Robust Interface With Dna Circuits In Determining Genetic Similarities Between Pathogens, Christopher Neighbor, Christof Teuscher

Student Research Symposium

As computational power increases, the field of neural networks has advanced exponentially. In particular recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are being utilized to simulate dynamic systems and to learn to predict time series data. Reservoir computing is an architecture which has the potential to increase training speed while reducing computational costs. Reservoir computing consists of a RNN with a fixed connections “reservoir” while only the output layer is trained. The purpose of this research is to explore the effective use of reservoir computing networks with the eventual application towards use in a DNA based molecular computing reservoir for use in pathogen …

Clustering And Multifacility Location With Constraints Via Distance Function Penalty Methods And Dc Programming, Tuyen Tran, Samuel Reynolds, Thai An Nguyen, Mau Nam Nguyen

Student Research Symposium

This is a continuation of our effort in using mathematical optimization involving DC programming in clustering and multifacility location. We study a penalty method based on distance functions and apply it particularly to a number of problems in clustering and multi- facility location in which the centers to be found must lie in some given set constraints. We also provide numerical examples to test our method.

Metallodithiolate Ligands For Reversing Metal Ion Induced Aggregation Of Beta Amyloid, Eleanor K. Adams, Marilyn Rampersad Mackiewicz

Student Research Symposium

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States with no known methods to cure, reverse or halt disease progression. The “metal hypothesis” states that Fe^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, and Al^II bind to truncated Aβ peptides and form soluble oligomers which deposit as senile plaques. These plaques play a crucial role in AD pathogenesis. For example, metallated-Aβ aggregates are hypothesized to disrupt membranes or generate a reactive oxygen species (ROS) through redox cycling in the presence of Cu^I/II or Fe^III/II and a reducing agent. ROS can lead …

Assessment Of Observed Increases In Extreme Warm Exceedances In Locations With Short Warm Side Tails, Jacob S. Hunter, Paul C. Loikith, J. David Neelin

Student Research Symposium

Regions of shorter-than-Gaussian temperature distribution tails have been shown to occur in spatially coherent patterns in the current climate using reanalysis. Under such conditions, future changes in extremes due to global warming may manifest in more complex ways than if the underlying distribution were closer to Gaussian. For instance, under a uniform warm shift, the simplest prototype for future warming, a location with a short warm side tail would experience a greater increase in exceedances than if the distribution were Gaussian. This carries meaningful societal and environmental implications including but not limited to negative impacts on human and ecosystem health, …

Diagnostic Platform For Current Health Status Monitoring, Albert S. Benight, Megan M. Koslen, Matthew W. Eskew

Student Research Symposium

Our approach is based on physical measurements of blood plasma and exploits the plethora of information contained in the human plasma proteome, as a reporter of human health status. The assay involves collection and analysis ofthermograms of plasma from human blood measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Plasma thermograms arise from the temperature-induced denaturation profile of proteins within blood plasma measured by DSC. This insightful measurement thereby provides a snapshot of the current state of the human plasma proteome which directly informs on overall systemic health. Such measurements have been shown to be highly accurate and sensitive indicators of health …

Estimating Sand Loss: Using Eolian Sand Ramps As A Proxy For Estimating Past Erosion Within The Lincoln City Dune Sheet; Lincoln City, Oregon, Kara E. P. Kingen, John Bershaw, Curt D. Peterson

Student Research Symposium

Eolian sand ramps are features that are sculpted from beach sand blowing up against sea cliffs or bluffs. In some coastal areas, sand ramp deposits only appear as the erosional remnants of pre-existing ramps that have been truncated at eroded shorelines, separating them from their previous sediment supply. Although sand ramp features have been observed in other areas on the western coast of the United States , they had not been studied or documented within the Lincoln City Dune Sheet (LINC) prior to this study – which documents the existence of truncated eolian sand ramps in LINC and uses them …

Opportunities In Physics Education: Low-Cost Position Tracking For Use In Kinematics Labs, Paul R. Destefano, Cora Siebert, Roberto Perez-Franco, Thomas Allen, Gabriel Mukobi, Ralf Widenhorn

Student Research Symposium

Traditional introductory physics kinematics laboratories utilized a few different instruments for locating objects in motion, all of which have shortcomings. Some provide only timing data, which heavily restricts trajectories and data collection. Some instruments provide more measurements but restrict object shapes, orientations, and textures. Still others require extensive pre-processing. None of these traditional instruments provide two- or three-dimensional position data. New, low-cost, local positioning technology, based on radio frequency wireless communications, is available that enables novel redesigns of physics laboratories. This technology provides two- and three-dimensional position measurements, continuously, at data rates of 10 Hz or faster, from any object …