Digital Commons Network^™

Final Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area Materials Management Plan, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Machine Learning For Zero-Day Malware Detection: An Adaptive Static-Dynamic Analysis Approach, Garrett Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

In an era of swiftly evolving cyber threats, zero-day malware continues to be one of the most challenging classes of attacks to detect and mitigate. Traditional signature-based methods often fail to detect novel malicious code, leaving institutions vulnerable to unknown exploits. This thesis proposes a machine learning (ML)-based framework that is designed to detect unknown malware variants. By combining both static and dynamic techniques, such as file structure exam ination and sandbox-based runtime analysis, this approach aims to successfully capture malicious characteristics. The proposed custom pipeline addresses the computational overhead that is associ ated with deep inspections, outlining a staged …

Volume 17, Christian O’Neill, Kyara Greene, Savva Sidorov, Laura Bisaillon, Luke Clemmer, Hannah Gordon, Kitt Benson, Taylor Blount, Rachel Danzitz, Nicholas Duellman, Chase Gionis, Hima Fernando, Seth Franzyshen, Onyx Gonzalez, Bryan Lin, Samantha Start, Ysabel Wells, Maggie Duncan

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Cover Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Yulia Uryadova

Ukrainian Resistance in the Face of Russification: Nestor Makhno and Anarchism

by Christian O’Neill

Life Vest by Kyara Greene

Isolation and 16S rRNA Identification of Bacteria from Fire Department Connection Pipe by Savva Sidorov

The Effectiveness of Planned Exercise in Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Children by Laura Bisaillon & Luke Clemmer

Linguistic Analysis on Confidence and Communication Strategies with Disparities Between Sign Fluency and Hearing Impairment by Hannah Gordon

Freedmen in Indian Territory by Kitt …

X-Raying The Material Surrounding Active Supermassive Black Holes, Isaiah S. Cox

All Dissertations

It is important to understand the nature of the gas and dust immediately surrounding the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in active galactic nuclei (AGN), because this material feeds the accretion disk and couples the activities going on at the AGN scale to the host galaxy. However, there remain large uncertainties on basic properties about this material such as its location and distribution. This is primarily due to the difficulties in resolving spatial information on these scales at extragalactic distances.

AGN emit a tremendous amount of radiation all across the electromagnetic spectrum, including X-rays. The X-rays come from a very small …

Explainability In Deep Learning For Density Regression, Dalton James Oxford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Classical statistical methods focus on explainability and inferential power. Machine learning and deep learning can handle non-linear, high-dimensional data better than traditional methods. In modeling, a clear understanding and interpretation are essential to decision-making. Recent work in quantile regression and extreme modeling has begun to use deep learning due to its performance on high-dimensional, non-linear data. Semi-Parametric Quantile Regression (SPQR) is a nonparametric spline-based approach to quantile regression that estimates the conditional PDF and CDF of the response. Semi-Parametric Quantile Regression for Extremes (SPQRx) is a recent extension of SPQR that provides two features: out-of-sample estimation and accurate extreme-tailed estimation. …

Structural Relaxation In Glass-Forming Liquids At Extreme Pressure: Photon-Correlation Spectroscopy And Constrained Thermodynamic Surface Modeling, Kevin Wayne Lyon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Structural relaxation in glass-forming liquids is strongly dependent on both temperature and pressure, yet direct measurement of structural α-relaxation under multi-gigapascal compression has remained experimentally challenging. This work extends depolarized photon correlation spectroscopy (DPCS) to pressures approaching 5 GPa in a diamond anvil cell, representing the highest-pressure implementation of this technique and enabling direct measurement of the structural α-relaxation in a pure liquid at extreme compression. This capability provides access to dynamical regimes previously unexplored by photon correlation spectroscopy and establishes a platform for probing glassy dynamics at high pressure. To describe these measurements, a constrained relaxation-time surface framework is …

Mechanism Of Formation Of Guanine-Guanine Crosslinks As Products Of One-Electron Oxidation Of 1-Methylguanosine In Acidic Medium, Ibrahim Braimah Mr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) from normal metabolism and environmental exposure may cause oxidative DNA damage. Guanine (G) is the most oxidizable nucleobase. One-electron oxidation (OEO) of G in produces guanine radical cation (G•⁺), which deprotonates to form guanyl radical G(-H)•.This radical exists in two tautomeric forms: G(N1-H)• and G(N2-H)•. Dimerization of guanyl radical yields G-G cross-links (D1/D2); a tautomeric form for dimer formation remains elusive. This study presents the first characterization of G• dimerization products from the OEO of 1-MeGuo in acidic medium. Photolysis at 470 nm in the presence of S₂O₈²⁻ and Ru(II)(bpy)₃²⁺ generates two major stereoisomers (D1AW* and …

Discrete-Event Simulation: A Leslie System Model For Transportation Demography, Md Zobaer Ahammad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transportation systems are influenced by demographic change, household formation,and patterns of vehicle ownership. These factors affect long-run transportation demand and congestion levels within urban infrastructure. Understanding how demographic dynamics interact with transportation behavior is therefore important for analyzing the long-term evolution of transportation systems. This thesis develops a modeling framework that integrates discrete-event simulation with a Leslie-type matrix model to study transportation–demography interactions.Simulation outputs are aggregated to construct a transition matrix describing changes in transportation states. This matrix acts as a linear (or affine) transformation on the transportation state vector, allowing the system to be analyzed as a discrete linear …

Ecological Insights And Management Implications Of The Global Migratory Connectivity Of Green Turtles, Jaime Restrepo, Dina Nisthar, Harris Wei-Khang Heng, Lily K. Bentley, Corrie Curtice, Sarah Deland, Ei Fujioka, Patrick N. Halpin, Sarah K. Poulin, Roldán A. Valverde

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Aim

Green turtles are a widely distributed and highly migratory species; despite extensive data on their movement, there is no species-specific global synthesis on the subject. Based on three decades of published literature and building on previous global analyses, we developed a global network model of migratory connectivity for green turtles to better understand their spatial biology.

Location

Global.

Time Period

1990–2022.

Major Taxa Studied

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Methods

We conducted a structured literature review extracting georeferenced information on the movement of green turtles from 1990 to 2022, aggregating this information into a single connectivity model, …

Rainbow Dominating Sets Of Graphs, Samuel L. Powell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The content of this thesis may be compared to a stack of plates with a common design that are broken, one at a time. If the plates are broken into large enough pieces you would be able to choose one fragment from each broken plate to discover the entire design that the plates share. For example, if you were still missing the center of the design after taking a piece from some plates, you could look for the piece of the next broken plate with the region in question.

We study the question of how many broken plates might guarantee …

Scalable Roof Polygon Extraction And Geometric Characterization From Remotely-Sensed Data For Snow Load Assessment, Jashon Newlun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Heavy snow accumulation on rooftops is a serious structural risk in cold climates, and understanding how much snow builds up on different types of roofs is essential for safe building design. Currently, most data on roof snow loads comes from small, labor-intensive field surveys that cover only a handful of buildings at a time. This results in far too few measurements of buildings to draw confident conclusions about how snow behaves across communities. This thesis develops and demonstrates a new automated approach for measuring roof snow accumulation and extracting key building characteristics across thousands of buildings at once using airborne …

A Comparative Study Of Traditional Training And Xr-Based Simulation In Healthcare Professional Education, Fazal Qudus Khan, Gohar Khan, Ibrar Ahmad, Owais Khan, Suleman Shah

All Works

Immersive Virtual Reality or VR/VX stands poised to revolutionize healthcare education through interactive learning modules, overcoming current deficiencies in existing methodologies for instruction. This research compared the effectiveness of VR/VX-based training to traditional CT scanner operator training using a within-subjects design, involving 30 subjects, and concluded the effectiveness of using VR/VX in enhancing knowledge retention, task accomplishment, and engagement, and proved it by showing significant enhancement in immediate knowledge acquisition scores (Δ = 8.87, t(29) = 6.71, p < .0001), relative to delayed knowledge retention scores (Δ = 11.03, t(29) = 6.85, p < .0001), procedural achievement scores (Δ = 5.40, t(29) = 4.45, p = .0001), reduced overall task completion time using VR/VX for increased speed of execution (t(29) = 10.74, p < .0001), as well as reduced task errors for lower error rates using VR/VX in comparison to existing methodologies, as testified by the results, t(29) = 8.14, p < .0001, respectively, while showing no significant difference in usability, although assessed superior in terms of engagement and relative usefulness by the involved subjects.

Uncertainty Handling In Stock Market Prediction: A Fuzzy Markov Chain Approach, Alpa Singh Rajput, Arpan Singh Rajput

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Predicting the stock market is never easy because it is influenced by many uncertain and constantly changing factors such as economic conditions, investor behaviour, and global events. Traditional models like the Crisp Markov Chain (CMC) try to predict market movements by using fixed probabilities for different states like bullish, bearish, or stagnant. However, real markets do not behave in such a strict way—they often move gradually between states, which these models fail to capture. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces a Fuzzy Markov Chain (FMC) model, where fuzzy logic is used to handle uncertainty and allow smoother transitions between …

Creating A Unique Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carrier, Clayton Fuller

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The purpose of this thesis is to explain the current state of alternative oxygen carriers and propose a new hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) as a blood substitute/ blood therapeutic. Blood donation has drawbacks: risk of spread of infection, short storage time, and blood typing, and the current shortage. There are several possible modifications for hemoglobin to create a carrier (HBOC) which address specific issues related to allowing free hemoglobin to exist extra cellularly. One issue to address is vasoconstriction caused by nitric oxide scavenging, which has been solved by increasing the molecular weight of the HBOC via (co)polymerization, or by …

Exploring Gender As An Analytical Framework In The 2018-2019 Revolution And Ongoing Civil War: The Role Of Gendered Violence And Sudanese Women's Resistance, Ami John

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper will interrogate the intersection of gender, war, and political upheaval within Sudan while focusing on the role of women in both the 2019 resistance and the ongoing conflict and revolution. By the end of 2018, mass protests had called for the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, the long-standing Sudanese president. This event set off a chain reaction which led to events that fueled the long-standing rivalry between the two militant groups that were active in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The tension caused by this rivalry created unforeseen circumstances for the local …

Research On The Accessibility Elements Of Rural Public Digital Cultural Services Based On Aism-Fmicmac, Lihui Peng, Banruo Gu, Chuang Hong, Xisheng Hu

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] A structural analysis of the stratified dependencies among accessibility determinants in rural public digital cultural ecosystems enables identification of pivotal developmental nodes, thereby establishing theoretical foundations for optimizing service delivery mechanisms and achieving spatial equilibrium in digital cultural provision. [Method/process] This study applies grounded theory to conduct a comprehensive coding analysis of policy documents related to China's rural public digital cultural services. Through this process, five dimensions and fifteen sub-components of accessibility are identified. An index system for accessibility factors is then developed using the AISM approach. The identified elements are classified into three hierarchical levels. To further validate …

Finiteness Of Torsion Loci And Normal Functions Arising From Cycles On Hadamard Products, Devin Akman

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The unifying theme of this dissertation is normal functions. In the first chapter, we study an invariant of knot exteriors and similar manifolds called the A-polynomial through the lens of vanishing loci of normal functions. Using a special case of the Zilber-Pink conjecture, proven in the second chapter, we show that only finitely many irreducible Laurent polynomials of bounded overgenus appear as factors of A-polynomials. In the third chapter, we construct normal functions from hypergeometric variations of Hodge structure and compute their regulators. Finally, we determine under which conditions incomplete motivic cohomology cycles on families complete to cycles on their …

Exactly Solving One-Dimensional Models For The Fractional Quantum Hall Effect, Joseph R. Cruise

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Nearly fifty years after its experimental debut, the quantum hall effect has produced perhaps more unique descriptions than any other subject of condensed matter physics. From topological band theory to non-commutative geometry, topological and conformal field theories, random matrix models and more, each approach captures a subset of the essential features, and compliments the others to produce a beautiful mosaic description. In this thesis, we revisit the fractional quantum hall (FQH) effect from its oldest vantage point, that of the trial wavefunctions and the parent Hamiltonians which stabilize them. Laughlin's observation of the importance of the theory of holomorphic functions …

Rosenzweig's Elements And Universal History, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper uses Rosenzweig’s conception of the three elements of God, World, and Human from The Star of Redemption in a model of universal history. The model also has some relation to Rosenzweig’s geopolitical essay, Globus, which is very different from the meta-historical Star. Based on a systems-theoretic schema of events and processes, the model views human history in terms of three linked processes: a primary process labeled “World” – the origin and development of human society embedded in nature, a secondary process labeled “God” – the origin and development of the Axial religions and philosophies, and a …

Theoretical Study Of Electronic Properties Of Functionalized Monolayers: Cu, Ag, Au, And Pt Atomic Wires On Graphene, H-Bn Monolayer, Silicene, And Phosphorene, Mythreyee T. Aasuri, Mukesh K. Choudhary, Narender Kumar, Ravindra Pandey

Michigan Tech Publications

The structural and electronic properties of graphene, h-BN monolayer, silicene, and phosphorene monolayers functionalized with Cu, Ag, Au, and Pt atomic wires were investigated using van der Waals─corrected density functional theory. These atomic wires form stable, functionalized monolayers that exhibit physisorption on planar monolayers and chemisorption on nonplanar ones. This results in either linear or bent configurations of the atomic wires, depending on the interface strength, leading to distinct electronic states. A weaker interface induces metal-induced gap states near the Fermi level, whereas a stronger interface results in covalently hybridized states farther from the Fermi level. Analysis of the electron …

Cognition Is Not Content: A Structural Account Of Processing Conditions, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

Human cognition has been described in terms of content. This description becomes insufficient once artificial systems make output observable apart from subject attribution, intention, and relational context. Under this contrast condition, what becomes visible is a layered structure in which output, reconstruction, evaluation, and termination do not necessarily coincide. The same input may register as complete under one processing condition while remaining unresolved under another. This separability means that content-based description does not merely omit an additional variable: it can mislocate a processing difference as a difference in meaning, personality, intention, ability, or attitude. This is not a proposal for …

Isolation, Identification And Antibiotic-Resistance Profiling Of Bacteria Isolated From Mobile Phone Surfaces In Karbala., Kawkab Abdullah Alsaadi, Zahraa Raheem Murshidy, Dhuha Ali Hussein, Sura Abd Ali Kadhim, Kawakib Aboudi Hanoon

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Due to the diverse environments that mobile phones are exposed to via human handling they become reservoirs of microorganisms. The objective of the current study was to determine the level and character of bacterial contamination on mobile phones by identifying bacterial strains, and the degree of antimicrobial susceptibility. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2025 where phones belonging to 115 individuals were randomly chosen from various departments and units at Kerbala University and swabbed. The VITEK 2 automated system was used to identify bacterial taxa and test for antimicrobial susceptibility, and 50 of the swabs exhibited bacterial …

An Infinite Set Of One-Range Addition Theorems Without An Infinite Second Series, For Slater Orbitals And Their Derivatives, Applicable To Multiple Coordinate Systems, Jack C. Straton

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Addition theorems have been indispensable tools for the reduction of quantum transition amplitudes. They are normally utilized at the start of the process to move the angular dependence within plane waves, Coulomb potentials, and the like, into a sum over spherical harmonics that allows the angular integration to be carried out. These have historically been “two-range” addition theorems, characterized by the two-fold notation r>=Max[r1,r2] and r< =Min[r1,r2] and comprising a single infinite series. More recently, “one-range” addition theorems have been created that have no such piecewise notation, but at the cost of the introduction of another infinite series. We use a very different approach to derive an infinite set of addition theorems for Slater orbitals, hydrogenic and Hylleraas wave functions, and so on, that retain the one-range variable dependence but have, at worst, a finite second series rather than an infinite one. In addition, unlike previous addition theorems, they are applicable to more than one coordinate system. One of these addition theorems may also be used for Yukawa-like functions that may appear late in the reduction of amplitude integrals, and we show its utility for an integral that has stubbornly defied reduction to analytic form for nearly sixty years. Finally, we craft indefinite integrals of 15 half-integer Macdonald functions multiplied by (inverse) powers and negative exponentials containing squares of the integration variable.

Development Of New Technical Approaches To Speed The Search For Axion Dark Matter With Haloscopes, Jonah Harper Hoffman

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The axion is a hypothetical particle that may solve two major problems in physics: the strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the unknown particle nature of the dark matter. Axion haloscopes like the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX) are capable of probing the region of parameter space where axions could constitute the dark matter. These experiments use a microwave resonant cavity in a strong magnetic field to convert axions into detectable photons when their Compton wavelength matches the resonant mode of the cavity. By moving a metal rod within the cavity volume, the resonant frequency can be tuned, …

Developing A Framework To Improve Phishing Response After Detection, Kevin Umba

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Phishing belongs to the most prevalent attack vectors in the cybersecurity industry. Academia, industry, and government resources offer a wealth of information on the subject. However, insights on phishing techniques and remediations are scattered across those sources. Most governmental and academic literature focuses on user awareness, policy guidelines, or phishing training. This leaves the security practitioners underserved. Furthermore, actionable information for security operations is often unstructured or vendor-specific. The goal of the thesis is to provide a preliminary framework to guide security professionals through indicators of compromise and remediation, using a vendor-neutral approach.

Writing As A Process Of Inquiry In Autoethnography For Meaning-Making: Reflections And Some Points For Consideration, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

This article explores writing as a process of inquiry and meaning-making in the autoethnographic tradition, offering reflections on the recursive, emergent, and dialogical/dialectical nature of writing, along with some points for consideration. Drawing on perspectives from qualitative research and narrative inquiry (Riessman, 2008), I argue that autoethnographic writing serves as a method of inquiry and/or discovery, generating ontological, epistemological, and axiological-driven cultural meaning that functions as a site of reflection, interrogation, and re-storying of lived experiences. This recursive, often messy, and reflexive act allows researchers to excavate, analyze, and interpret their lived experiences. Rather than viewing writing as a final-stage …

2026 - The Thirtieth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 30th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 22-24, 2026. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Parameter Optimization And Field Application Of Roof Volume Fracturing Using Horizontal Wells For Coalbed Methane Extraction From Broken-Soft Coal Seams, Zhang Qingli, Sun Siqing, Li Haozhe, Wu Xiaoxuan, Yang Fan, Zheng Yuqi, Li Wenbo

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method To achieve rapid coalbed methane (CBM) extraction from broken-soft coal seams using surface horizontal wells, this study proposed a volume fracturing technology for coal seam roof using horizontal wells. Focusing coal seam 4-1 in a mining area, this study established a numerical model using finite element analysis (FEA) software Abaqus Using this model, the impacts of in-situ stress on the cross-layer propagation characteristics of multiple fractures were investigated. Through true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments, the multi-fracture propagation patterns under varying injection rates of fracturing fluids, perforation cluster numbers, and cluster spacings were analyzed. Using 3D fracturing design …

Joint Inversion For Heat Transfer Parameters Of Porous Media With Geothermal-Seepage Coupling Based On A Physics-Informed Neural Network, Zhang Xiao, Yang Duoxing, Cong Lin, Cheng Yimei, Zhang Lianzhong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The thermal diffusivity and vertical seepage velocity of porous media are critical to characterizing the mechanisms underlying subsurface heat transfer. These two parameters are typically determined through inversion using temperature data since they are difficult to measure directly. Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) can yield high-resolution, continuous temperature profiles, providing data for parameter identification. However, conventional numerical inversion suffers from limitations such as mesh dependency and sensitivity to initial values when used to process continuous monitoring data. Methods This study proposed a joint geothermal parameter inversion method that integrates FO-DTS data with a physics-informed neural network (PINN). Specifically, the …

An Analysis Of Surface-Level Macro And Microplastics Along Western Central Leyte, Philippines, Graham B. Morrison-Plumley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the pervasive use of plastics worldwide, their environmental effects can reach even the most remote ecosystems. This study examines both macro and microplastic pollution in the Greater Baybay region in western Leyte, Philippines. Samples from 10 separate sites within Baybay and its adjacent communities represent the unique environmental and geologic diversity of the central Visayan region of the Philippines. At each of the 10 sampling sites, 3 excavations were conducted, yielding 30 samples. Macroplastics were collected in the field, immediately around microplastic digs. Microplastic samples were analyzed in Florida Atlantic University’s Environmental Change Lab. It was determined that spatial …