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Numerical Study Of Nutrient Mixing In Trabecular Bone In Microgravity, Disuse And Normogravity, Sagar Gharti

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Mechanical loading is known to regulate bone remodeling by driving interstitial fluid flow which stimulates cells and drives nutrient transport within the trabecular network. In microgravity, the absence of mechanical stimulation or loading suppresses convective flow processes, causing diffusion-driven nutrient mixing and renewal, and accelerated bone loss. This thesis investigates how oscillation frequency and trabecular bone density jointly control nutrient mixing and wall shear stress within trabecular cavities.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework is developed in STAR-CCM+ using a soft-cap oscillation model that mimics cyclic compression. Three idealized trabecular morphologies are simulated across different frequencies to represent microgravity or …

Quantum Dot Solar Cells: Background, Progress, And Perspective, Kumar Neupane, Jeff Kabel, Join Uddin, Raksha Dubey, Rojina Ojha, Dongyan Zhang, Yoke Khin Yap

Michigan Tech Publications

The discovery of quantum dots (QDs) earned a Nobel Prize and has led to widespread applications in research and technology. In this review, we focus on the use of QDs in solid-state solar cells (QDSCs). We begin with an overview of the basic principles of SCs. Then, we discuss how device architecture has developed over recent decades, setting the stage for the final section on fourth-generation solar cells (Perspective section). We also highlight progress in material development, starting with lead- and cadmium-based QDs and progressing to more recent carbon- and perovskite-based QDs. Additionally, we review materials used for electron-transport layers …

Synthesis Of Piperidine Heterocycles With Specific Functional Groups Via Sn2 Reactions, Teyanna Monroe

Honors Theses

Piperidine is a heavily utilized nitrogen containing heterocycle found in numerous pharmaceutical agents, solidifying its importance as a building block in drug development. The focus of this research is to investigate different mechanisms of action for adding and replacing various functional groups utilizing readily available lab materials. These findings would lead to determining the overall influence of substitution patterns and functional groups have on stereochemistry, reactivity, and overall conformation of the piperidine ring. The synthetic approach involves the formation of 3-bromo-5-methoxy-tosylpiperidine intermediate through acid promoted cyclization, followed by nucleophilic substitution reactions to introduce various functional groups. Reaction progress and product …

Taphonomy And Fossil Record Of Eufistulana Mumia In The Owl Creek Formation Of The Mississippi Embayment, Riley Rilette

Honors Theses

This study examines the taphonomy and preservation of Eufistulana mumia, a boring bivalve, within the Owl Creek Formation of northeastern Mississippi. The formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment of Maastrichtian age within the Mississippi Embayment. A total of 66 specimens were collected from exposures within the formation and analyzed to evaluate morphometric variation and orientation patterns. Field measurements of trend and plunge of each specimen were recorded in situ using a geological compass, and specimens were later prepared and measured in the laboratory with digital calipers. Morphometric results show consistent tube morphology, with basal widths larger than distal …

The Importance Of Body Size And Spatial Scale In Modeling Winter Bird Distributions, Carissa M. Mobley

Student Publications

Birds’ annual cycles include biologically linked breeding and non-breeding seasons, yet most research and bird atlases focus exclusively on the breeding season. There have been very few winter bird atlas projects in North America, and none have been published for the northeastern United States. Short daylight hours and harsh weather limit winter survey coverage, making species distribution models (SDMs) essential for addressing spatial gaps.

I evaluated the optimal spatial scale for SDMs across bird species differing in body size and tested whether optimal scale varies with body mass. Using 16,967 eBird checklists collected during the first winter survey period (December …

Raptor Abundance And Occupancy In Urban Parks Within Metropolitan Landscapes, Mary- Esther Leblanc

Posters - 2026

Rapid urbanization is one of the most significant and accelerating drivers of global biodiversity change, reshaping wildlife communities by fragmenting habitat, altering prey availability, and introducing human disturbances. Despite these pressures, some wildlife species are attracted to and may even flourish in urban settings, primarily because urbanization creates an altered landscape that often unintentionally provides resources functioning as components of habitat. (Chiron et al., 2024) Raptors, as apex predators within avian food webs, offer a valuable lens through which to examine these dynamics. While raptor communities are broadly negatively impacted by urbanization, some species can thrive in urban areas. (Leveau …

Polylactic Acid (Pla) Microplastic Toxicity In C. Elegans, Maria Gamez, Dana Farley, Chiara Maldonado, David Mares

Posters - 2026

• Microplastics (MPs, > 5 mm1) are an environmental pollutant that pose health risks to humans. • Primary MPs are created for direct use or plastic stocks, and secondary MPs are created when plastics in the environment break down over time. • Microplastic exposure can cause oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues2-3. • Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable plastic used in everyday items, such as food packaging, and as a polymer in 3D printing. • PLA exposure to fish causes organ damage5 and C. elegans exposure to primary PLA MPs and UV-aged MPs reduced reproduction6-7 . …

Bird Population Response To Abiotic And Biotic Stresses In Urban & Restored Oak Savannah Habitat, Annabelle Ball

Posters - 2026

Birds are heavily impacted by urban development. Many experience habitat fragmentation and removal of food sources. However, other species can adapt to and even thrive in urban environments, thanks to certain tree species, bird feeders, and buildings. In North America, the house sparrow and the European starling are invasive species that benefit from urban environments (Bartelt, 2011; Fitzwater, 2014). Meanwhile, many habitats across the continent are experiencing restoration/rewilding efforts for the benefit of birds. One such habitat is the oak-savannah, which is characterized by 10-30% canopy cover and a mixture of prairie & woodland vegetation, supporting a high diversity of …

Saved From The Brink Of Collapse: Evaluating The Success Of The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, Keagan Farrell, Kelly Swyers, Adan Vasquez

Posters - 2026

Kelp forests are vital to ocean health, they provide habitat, food, and nursery grounds for a variety of marine species. These forests support fisheries, improve water quality, and help to protect coastlines (Eger et al. 2024). The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project is a marine conservation effort aimed at restoring their kelp forests along the Sussex coastline in southern England. This area lost up to 96% of its forests mainly due to the fishing practice trawling. Trawling is used to gather large amounts of fish, while dragging a net at the seafloor (Our history 2026). The main goal of the Sussex …

Thermal Vacuum Technical Report, Taiye Ibukun Fatima Ougundare, Ryan Bade

Senior Project

This system enables ground-based testing of components prior to space deployment. It replicates key Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions, including both pressure and temperature. The chamber reduces pressure from atmospheric conditions (~760 Torr) to ~7.6 × 10⁻⁶ Torr. The thermal vacuum system achieves temperatures ranging from −60 °C to +125 °C for realistic environmental simulation.

2026 Research Day Program, Lincoln Memorial University

Research Day

This program contains abstracts and presentation summaries from LMU's 2026 Annual Research Day conference.

Synthesis And Photophysical Studies Of Coumarin-Quinoline Derivatives, Nishrenika Pokhrel

Honors Theses

A new family of oxime-functionalized coumarin-quinoline derivatives, 5a and 5b, has been synthesized through a five-step procedure in high yields (45-98%). Compound 5a is designed as the sensing probe, while 5b serves as a model system to support mechanistic understanding. The sensing approach is based on the reactivity of the oxime group, which can undergo phosphorylation in the presence of organophosphate nerve agents. Based on this behavior, it is hypothesized that 5a can react irreversibly with a nerve agent mimic. The structures were fully characterized by NMR, FTIR, and HRMS. Photophysical properties of 5a were studied in various solvents, …

Enhancing Urban Garden Capacity By Linking Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function, Mary T. Nguyen, Carleen Rauh, Shelby Gresch, Charlotte Correiro, Heidi Elmendorf, Adriane Fugh-Berman, Gina Wimp, Alexandra L. Decandia

Virginia Journal of Science

Urban agriculture broadly describes food and plant cultivation in metropolitan areas. While biodiversity is thought to support ecosystem health and resilience, the relationship between above-ground and below-ground diversity has been understudied in urban green spaces. This study examines plant, animal, bacterial, and fungal diversity across three distinct urban habitats: a turf lawn, a forb garden, and a farming space. Using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 sequencing, soil nutrient analyses, and surveys of vegetation and wildlife, we connect diverse philosophies in urban agriculture to their role in advancing community diversity and ecosystem function. We found that different urban gardens support …

Synthesis And In Vitro Evaluation Of Potential Tuberculosis Antibiotics, Chloe Spradlin

Honors Projects

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health threat. The bacteria causing TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has proven difficult to combat, as drug resistance (MDR-TB) continues to develop within the bacteria. Access to healthcare in developing countries complicates the treatment of TB and MDR-TB. The World Health Organization has declared TB a global health crisis and has called for the development of new therapies. Previously, we used AutoDock Vina software to design novel drugs targeting InhA, an enzyme involved in mycobacterial cell wall synthesis. This project focuses on synthesizing amino diphenyl amides (ADA) and screening them against Mycobacterium. The synthetic pathway enables …

Designing Surface-Induced Entatic States In Copper Complexes For Tunable Reactivity, Rachel Kiser

Senior Theses

Copper catalysts play an important role in electrocatalytic oxidation reactions due to their redox flexibility and relative abundance compared to noble metal catalysts. In biological systems, copper metalloenzymes often achieve enhanced reactivity through an entatic state. Entasis is described as an active site or metal center being constrained to a geometric and electronic state, minimizing primary sphere reorganization energy and achieving higher rates of electron transfer.  This study investigates whether entasis can be achieved in synthetic molecular catalysts by immobilizing Cu(I) complexes onto metal oxide surfaces. Two Cu(I) complexes bearing carboxylate-functionalized ligands were examined both in homogeneous solution and when …

Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …

The Effects Of Climate Change On Competition And Recovery From Disturbance In An Iconic Marine Community, Lauren Tibbits

Senior Theses

This paper explores how the recovery of populations of Semibalanus balanoides is affected by climate variation. In intertidal marine ecosystems, larval recruitment is important in shaping all ecological processes. S. balanoides is a cold-water barnacle species that is competitively dominant over Chthamalus montagui and C. stellatus, two warm-water species. This competitive interaction is well studied, though it is not understood how that competition influences the recovery of S. balanoides after a disturbance nor how this process varies over a temperature gradient. 19 sites were studied across the United Kingdom, spanning from northern Scotland to southwestern England. At each site, a …

Crystallization And Utility Of Brominated Phenylethynylene Bis-Urea Macrocycles, Paras Srivastava

Senior Theses

Macrocycles are large, cyclic molecules with central cavities that can encapsulate other molecules and that have uses in supramolecular chemistry. The Shimizu group has previously synthesized Macrocycle 1, a phenylethynylene bis-urea macrocycle that crystallizes in a columnar form, enabling its utility as a host in host-guest systems. Reactions within these systems can be used to modify stereospecificity, kinetics, and other physical properties. Previously, photodimerization reactions between coumarins and chromones have been studied in systems of Macrocycle 1, resulting in the improved specificity of photodimerization products. Herein, we apply a dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) strategy to synthesize Macrocycle 1 and its …

Low-Complexity Structured Neural Networks And Their Usage In Image And Signal Processing, Adam Kuzmicki

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Conventional neural networks face significant challenges due to high computational costs, large parameter counts, and reliance on backpropagation, which restricts their application in resource-constrained and real-time settings. To address these challenges, this thesis proposes three structured neural network (NN) architectures grounded in the theories of sparse and self-contained factorizations of transforms, with applications to image compression, reconstruction, classification, encryption, and also adaptive wideband multi-beam beamforming. The first neural network architecture, named DCTrix-Net, replaces conventional spatial con- volution with highly sparse factorization of the discrete Cosine transform (DCT) complemented by Toeplitz-structured weight initialization, achieving at least 97% FLOP reduction over CNNs, …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2025, San Antonio, Texas, Usa, Scott R. Beason, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) sponsors a poster session at every annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 37th SGE undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2025 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (GSA Connects) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, on Monday, October 20, 2025. Fifty-seven (57) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall 1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session, with authors present between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are …

Experimental And Computational Investigations Of Li-Ion And Na-Ion Battery Cathode Materials, Shintaro Inaba , ‘26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Batteries allow storage of chemical energy and controlled conversion of energy as electricity. Known to mankind since the eighteenth century, batteries have been vital in manufacturing, service industry, and use of portable electronics and electric vehicles. These systems utilize rechargeable batteries, where redox reactions are practically reversible. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are two rechargeable systems that are widely explored in the field of electrochemistry and electrical engineering due to their abundance of materials, relative safety, energy density and power density. Discovery and optimization of those battery materials are crucial in improving their performance and accelerating commercialization. In …

Advancing Paleontologic Mapping: A Gis And Drone Photogrammetry Approach To The Lance Formation Beds Of Glenrock, Wyoming, William H. Steelman, Monika Angner, Norman S. Levine, W S. Persons

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Small museums and volunteer-driven field programs often lack the resources required for detailed geological mapping, limiting the stratigraphic data associated with their fossil collections. To address this challenge, an affordable and replicable mapping workflow was developed that combined drone-based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and targeted structural measurements using the Glenrock Exposure of the Lance Formation as a study site. The resulting 3D outcrop models, bedding-plane reconstructions, and 750-m-thick stratigraphic column provide the first comprehensive spatial framework for 35 fossil quarries curated by the Glenrock Paleon Museum. The results reveal tightly clustered fossil-bearing horizons, a long interval lacking preservation, and a notable …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Metal Complexes Of Oxindole-Based Β-Lactams, Kenya Rosas, Erick Morales Orrante, Carlos Sifuentes, Alexsei Nazarov

Posters - 2026

• β-lactams are essential structural components of many antibiotics and widely studied due to their biological importance and synthetic versatility.
• The Ugi reaction is a multicomponent reaction, involving a primary amine, carboxylic acid, isocyanide, and an aldehyde or a ketone, that rapidly generates α-acetamido carboxamide derivatives (Ugi adducts).
• The synthesis and characterization of four oxindole-based β-lactam derivatives:
  • 1-Benzyl-N-(tert-butyl)-2-oxo-3-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)indoline-3-carboxamide (4a).
  • N-(tert-butyl)-2-oxo-3-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)-1-phenylindol-3-carboxamide (4ab).
  • N-(tert-Butyl)-2-oxo-3-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)indoline-3-carboxamide (4d).
  • N-(tert-butyl)-1-methyl-2-oxo-3-(2-oxoazetidin-1-yl)indol-3-carboxamide (4e).
• The coordination of the four Ugi adducts with Cu (II) and Ni (II) at different pH points to enhance their stability and improve biological activity.

Leveraging Section 208 Water Quality Planning To Mitigate Pfas Contamination In Watersheds Across The Waccamaw Region, Anna Dimatteo

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

No abstract provided.

Upgrades To Carvers Bay Water System To Improve Safety And Water Quality, Samantha Stollenmaier

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

No abstract provided.

Learning Techniques In Prediction Of Functional Epigenomic Events, Mohammad Shiri

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Accurately predicting functional epigenomic events from DNA sequences is critical to understanding gene regulation and the functional impact of non-coding variants. Despite considerable progress, critical challenges hamper the effectiveness and efficiency of existing deep learning approaches. These challenges include negative transfer in multi-task learning (MTL), suboptimal network architectures, and pervasive label noise, particularly the positive-unlabeled problem arising from data sparsity in single-cell assays. This dissertation presents a cohesive framework of novel learning techniques to effectively address these challenges. First, a highly scalable task grouping framework is presented to mitigate negative transfer in deep MTL. This method clusters tasks based on …

Dissecting The Etiology Of Alcohol Use Disorder By An Integrative Heritable Component Approach, Ivy Garrenton

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a pervasive condition characterized by complex interplay among genetic, phenotypic, and environmental factors. Although previous studies have identi fied genetic loci associated with alcohol consumption, these efforts have not captured the genetic heterogeneity and gene-environment interactions underlying AUD pathogenesis. To address this critical gap, we developed a novel statistical methodology that integrates phenotypic, genotypic, and environmental data through an environmentally modified Genetic Relationship Matrix (GRM) to derive AUD-related traits with enhanced heritability.

This approach demonstrated superior performance in both simulated and real-world datasets. Traits derived using the environmentally modified GRM exhibited significantly higher estimated heritability …

Increased Backbone Rigidity Of Artificial Transcription Factors, Jasmine Glover, Emma Otey, Joanna K. Kwao, Nicholas Truex

Senior Theses

Programming DNA-binding proteins is an effective strategy for developing therapeutics that regulate gene expression. These proteins can directly bind to DNA to activate or repress transcription of specific genes. Zinc finger proteins are a class of DNA-binding proteins commonly found in eukaryotic organisms. Their DNA-binding function is derived from unique amino acid sequences within each domain that recognizes specific nucleotides, allowing each finger to selectively recognize three DNA base pairs. Adjoining of multiple domains in tandem allows recognition of a specific DNA sequence. Artificial transcription factors can be made of multiple zinc finger domains arranged in tandem and engineered to …

Upper Ocean Cycling Of Iron South Of The Polar Front: Biological Patterns And Processes, Luis M. Laglera, Santos-Echeandía, Viena Puigcorbé, Christine Klass, Dieter Wolf-Gladrow

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Samples from the upper 300 m along the 52°S band, south of the Antarctic Polar Front in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, including a 3-week monitoring of a persistent bloom, were analyzed to advance our understanding of iron cycling and supply to recurrent phytoplankton blooms. We measured dissolved Fe (dFe, <0.2 μm) and labile particulate iron using a mild acid leach (pLFe^48h) targeting primarily detrital and fecal material. Particulate iron was partitioned into size classes to distinguish small, “slow” sinking particles (<53 μm) from large, “fast” sinking particles (>53 μm), while intermediate fractions were analyzed to investigate aggregation and export processes. Across all stations, dFe exhibited a consistent vertical structure, including a previously undescribed …

On The Extreme Complexity Of Certain Nearly Regular Graphs, Gregory P. Constantine, Gregory C. Magda

Theory & Applications of Graphs

The complexity of a graph is the number of its labeled spanning trees. It is demonstrated that the seven known triangle-free strongly regular graphs are graphs of maximal complexity among all graphs of the same order and degree; their complements are shown to be of minimal complexity. A generalization to nearly regular graphs with two distinct eigenvalues of the Laplacian is presented. Conjectures and applications of these results to biological problems on neuronal activity are described.