Digital Commons Network^™

Bioshock: An Objectivist Counter Discourse On Ayn Rand’S Atlas Shrugged, Tucker M. Hurst

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The aim for this thesis is to discuss the themes and story structure of Bioshock with respect to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged by deconstructing the relationship between both pieces of media as Bioshock representing a counter discourse to Rand’s objectivism. This will be done by examining both stories under a philosophical and economic lens to determine the main pillars of objectivism presented in Atlas Shrugged, then moving on to Bioshock’s dissection of these ideals when enforced on a secluded society. In doing so, not only is a better understanding of Rand’s philosophy obtained by presenting a form of case study …

Implementation Of A Droplet Interface Lipid Bilayer System For Electrical Characterization, Olivia J. Ziemer

Honors Theses

Lipid bilayers are the fundamental structural framework of cell membranes, providing cells with both protection from the environment and interaction with the surrounding environment. Experimental investigation of lipid bilayers and embedded protein channels often involves the formation of an artificial membrane within an electrical circuit. The focus of this project is to implement and verify the functionality of a lipid bilayer characterization technique known as the droplet interface bilayer (DIB), with emphasis on cost-effective system design. To achieve this, the amplifier and software from the ELEMENTS black lipid membrane (BLM) kit were repurposed to reduce the cost of implementing a …

Search For Slow-Moving Magnetic Monopoles With An Improved High-Energy Event Removal Algorithm, Reeshi N. Gihosal

Honors Theses

Fermilab’s NOvA (NuMI Off-axis 𝑣𝑒 Appearance) experiment focuses on understanding the behavior of neutrinos and how they affect the cosmos. A sub-focus of the NOvA experiment is the search for magnetic monopoles. These elusive particles have not yet been observed in nature, leaving their behavior to be mysterious. The Far Detector, located in Ash River, MN, is integral in the search for these particles. This project is on simulated magnetic monopoles with speeds thousandths the speed of light, with focus on the role of slicing algorithms in event reconstruction using the NOvA experiment’s reconstruction algorithm. Using sample data, analysis occurred …

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 …

Strain Engineering Of Excitonic And Vibrational Properties In Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides, Sneha Minesh Patel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mechanical strain represents a robust and non-invasive method for tuning the electronic and vibrational properties of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). This work examines homogeneous biaxial strain as a symmetry-preserving control parameter that governs excitonic and interlayer dynamics in atomically thin TMDs. In monolayer MoSe2, biaxial tensile strain is intrinsically generated during high-temperature physical vapor deposition due to thermal expansion mismatch with amorphous substrates. Optical spectroscopy demonstrates substantial and tunable excitonic energy shifts exceeding 100 meV per percent strain. Polarization-resolved second harmonic generation confirms the retention of lattice symmetry under biaxial deformation. The investigation is further extended to bilayer MoS2, where …

Between Chronicle And Legend: A Two-Scene Environment And Visual Effects Examination Of Physical Accuracy And Emotional Exaggeration On The Honey Creek Bridge Collapse, Alison R. Gaddy

All Theses

This thesis explores how truth and dramatization intersect in digital storytelling by comparing realistic and stylized simulations of the Honey Creek bridge collapse within the context of the Kate Shelley animated short. At the core of storytelling lies a tension between factual accuracy and dramatic stylization. We investigate that tension by examining how narrative truth is conveyed, distorted, or enhanced through visual dramatization by focusing on the psychology of audience perception and the motivations behind creative embellishment. The practical contribution of this research is the development of two distinct digital scene setups depicting the same Honey Creek bridge collapse event. …

Membrane Organization Of Rheb And Rhoa: Roles In Function And Allosteric Druggability, Chase M. Hutchins

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Small GTPases of the Ras superfamily are membrane-bound molecular switches that regulate nearly all major cellular processes, and their dysregulation drives cancers, neurological disorders, and metabolic diseases. While anchored to cellular membranes, the catalytic domains of small GTPases undergo orientation dynamics, adopting distinct configurations that can occlude or expose effector-binding surfaces and modulate signaling output. These dynamics have been characterized in the Ras oncoproteins, but whether they extend across the superfamily and influence allosteric druggability has remained unknown.

In this dissertation, I address these questions through Rheb and RhoA, two small GTPases with complementary differences in subfamily lineage, membrane localization, …

First-Principles Study Of Uranium Mononitride, Roy Noe Herrera Navarro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents a first-principles investigation of uranium mononitride (UN), withemphasis on the connection between uranium 5f electron correlation and defect stability. Electronic-structure calculations were performed within density functional theory using the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package. Exchange-correlation effects were treated within the generalized gradient approximation, and a Hubbard correction was applied to the uranium 5f manifold. The adopted Hubbard parameter was motivated by first-principles linear-response analysis and considered in the broader context of DFT+DMFT descriptions of correlated uranium systems, including recent interpretations of UN as a Hund-metal system. Bulk UN was studied in unit-cell and 2 x 2 x …

Turbulent Plenum Jet-Crossflow Validation Via Subgrid Scale Model Variation And Upstream Forcing Under Dynamic Hybrid Rans-Les, Cole W. Mccallum

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In modern gas turbine design, film cooling has become ubiquitous as a method for limiting heat transfer between high temperature gases post-combustion and the surface of downstream blades. This paper validates the use of various computational fluid dynamics techniques in recreating an experiment measuring adiabatic effectiveness over a surface downstream of a compound-angle N2 plenum jet incident on a turbulent-air boundary layer [1]. To do this, both RANS and Dynamic Hybrid RANS-LES (DHRL) methods are implemented and compared to previous research [2]. The latter method is then modified through implementation of a different subgrid scale (SGS) model and through addition …

A Catalogue Of Orbital Periods Of Cataclysmic Variables And Candidates From Tess Observations, Meryem K. Dag, Simone Scaringi, Kieran O’Brien, Martina Veresvarska, Nikita Rawat, Yusuke Tampo, Santiago Hernández-Díaz, Liliana Rivera Sandoval, Wendy Mendoza, Ryan J. Oelkers, Jan Kára

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a systematic analysis of 2544 cataclysmic variable systems and related candidates observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), with the aim of compiling a comprehensive catalogue of orbital periods. Using 2-min photometric time-series data, we applied an automated algorithm to generate Lomb–Scargle periodograms and identify the most significant coherent periodic signals, which were subsequently verified through visual inspection. This process yielded a confident sample of 910 sources exhibiting at least one periodic signal, hereafter referred to as the Cataclysmic Variable Confident Catalogue (CCC). For each object, we report the most likely orbital period together with …

Intermediate-Scale Outflow Dynamics Of Eta Carinae, Edmund J. Garcia, Matthew C. Fleenor

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

η Carinae (η Car) is a binary system, with the larger star being an extremely massive, luminous blue variable (LBV) beyond the Eddington Limit. Surrounding the η Car system, numerous multi-wavelength imaging campaigns reveal axisymmetric structures with the expanding bipolar Homunculus Nebula (¡1 pc). In combination with the episodic eruptive history of the η Car system, our initial intermediate-scale imaging revealed further axisym- metric structures (1-5 pc). To gain a more expansive view of how the small scale structure connects to panoramic imaging of the η Car region, we constructed a deep, optical, narrowband mosaic of 189 images utilizing the …

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 …

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 …

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.

Advancing High-Energy Astrophysics Through X-Ray Spectropolarimetry And Balloon-Borne Instrumentation, Sohee Chun

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The strong gravitational field around black holes provides a unique laboratory for investigating the behavior of matter and radiation under extreme conditions. As matter accretes, the interplay between the accretion disk, hot corona, and surrounding stellar environment produces complex spectral and polarimetric X-ray signatures. Thus, X-ray spectropolarimetry has become a powerful tool for constraining the accretion geometry. Building on these advances, this dissertation integrates theoretical modeling, observational data analysis, and instrumentation development to address open questions in high-energy astrophysics. On the theoretical side, relativistic ray-tracing simulations test the truncated disk-hot inner flow accretion geometry against observations of Cygnus X-1, identifying …

3Ω Thermal Transport In Atomically Thin Materials, Yiwei Le

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Since the discovery of graphene, research on two-dimensional (2D) materials has become a central focus of condensed matter physics. While an enormous number and variety of investigations of their electrical, optical, and mechanical properties have been undertaken, their thermal properties remain comparatively underexplored, despite the importance for understanding low-energy excitations and phase transitions. Here, we introduce an extension of the 3ω method thermal measurement technique to the 2D limit of materials. We develop analytical models of thermal transport in the 3ω geometry with boundary conditions tailored for suspended 2D flakes. We then experimentally confirm the feasibility of this approach in …

The Role Of Interactions In Moiré Quantum Materials, Liangtao Peng

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Moiré quantum materials have emerged as a highly tunable platform for studying strongly interacting electrons in low dimensions. By twisting or lattice-mismatching atomically thin crystals, one can generate long-wavelength moiré superlattices that reconstruct the electronic bands, produce narrow bandwidths, and greatly enhance the importance of Coulomb interactions. As a result, these systems host a wide range of correlated phenomena, including symmetry breaking, magnetism, and superconductivity. This dissertation develops and applies Green's-function-based many-body methods to understand the role of interactions in moiré quantum materials. This dissertation consists of four chapters. The first chapter introduces moiré quantum materials and reviews the basic …

Optimization Of Pediatric Multidetector Ct Imaging Parameters Using A Machine Learning–Based Monte Carlo Simulation Model, Ali O. Masoud, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Justin E Ngaile, Manoj Kumar, Mwingereza John Kumwenda Dr

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study utilized Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to optimize radiation doses in pediatric multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) head scans by analyzing key parameters like tube current (mA), tube voltage (kV), pitch, and slice thickness. The findings indicate that reducing tube current significantly lowers the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP), effectively minimizing patient radiation exposure. Higher pitch values (0.7–0.9) further reduced radiation by decreasing beam overlap, while using a thinner slice thickness (0.6 mm) improved dose efficiency. A comparison highlighted the effectiveness of optimization: simulated parameters kVp 100, mAs 81, pitch 0.98 yielded a CTDIvol of …

Patient-Level Breast Cancer Classification From Multi-View Mammography With Side-Specific Evidence For Interpretability, Bushra Intakhab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women. Early detection through screening mammography is therefore very important. However, mammogram interpretation can be difficult because abnormalities may be subtle and spread across different views. The increasing workload of radiologists can also affect timely analysis. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely explored to support mammography interpretation by improving speed and consistency. However, many existing AI methods focus on patch-level or image-level analysis rather than the full patient exam. This limits their ability to capture the complete clinical picture, since important information is distributed across multiple views. In …

Spot Scanning Proton Beams Characterization Via Plastic Scintillator Detector, Saad Bin Saeed Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In spot scanning proton therapy, the machine steers magnetically a narrow pencil beam across the target volume, delivering highly conformal dose distributions layer by layer. As beam size is very small, this introduces a dosimetry problem. The beam is dynamic and the dose gradients are steep — conditions that push conventional ionization chambers beyond their reliable operating range. Plastic scintillation detectors offer a potential solution. Their sub-millimeter active volumes avoid the volume-averaging effects over larger chambers, and their very high temporal resolution making real-time monitoring feasible. This thesis characterizes the Blue Physics plastic scintillation detector in spot scanning proton fields …

Bremsstrahlung Photons Emissions Measured At Different Rf Power In 28 Ghz Ecr Ion Source, Mwingereza John Kumwenda

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

High-performance electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs) generate large amounts of bremsstrahlung photons that affect the cryogenic systems due to the extra heat load that is produced. Thus, this study investigates the bremsstrahlung photons energy spectra at various RF powers, presenting some insight about the trends of the electron heating process inside the plasma. Bremsstrahlung photons from a 28 GHz ECRIS were measured at Busan center of Korean Basic Science Institute (KBSI). The gamma-ray detection system consists of three round-type NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors placed 620 mm radially from the beam axis at the extraction side of the ECRIS, and a …

Correcting Faraday Cup Measurements Using Rutherford Backscattering, Spencer Hughes, A. Bunnell, J. Kim

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Faraday cup is a conductive cup that measures the current of an incident beam of charged particles. Faraday cups are frequently used in particle accelerator-based studies where the beam intensity must be measured. A previous study determined the systematic error in Faraday cup measurements for a 3.4 MeV proton beam using Rutherford scattering at large angles. Our study builds upon this previous work to include six different beam energies ranging from 3.0 MeV to 0.6 MeV and two different incident masses (H and He). A silicon surface barrier detector measured the energy of back-scattered ions from a copper target. The …

Eigenmode Decomposition Analysis Of Resistive Magnetic Reconnection, Isaac Q. Evans

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Recent work demonstrates that specific aspects of nonlinear magnetic reconnection in a collisionless regime are directly attributable to linearly damped eigenmodes. In this work, we apply similar eigenmode analysis tools to characterize nonlinear magnetic reconnection driven by resistivity. In contrast to the collisionless case which contains a single unstable/stable eigenmode pair, the resistive case contains an unstable eigenmode and a wide spectrum of stable modes. Calculating eigenmode amplitudes allows for a determination of the significance of each eigenmode in the nonlinearly-evolved resistive reconnection. Linearly stable modes are found to be important in determining properties of nonlinear systems. We discuss how …

Design Of Virtual Impedance Controller For Parallel-Connected Converters In A Microgrid, Manyanda Makoye, Francis Mwasilu, Peter M. Makolo, Jackson Justo

Tanzania Journal of Science

This paper addresses the significant challenge of inaccurate power sharing among Distributed Generators (DGs) in islanded microgrids, which is primarily caused by mismatched feeder and line impedances. Conventional decentralized control solutions often fail to ensure accurate power sharing, especially when line impedances are resistive. To overcome this, the paper proposes a robust, coordinated Virtual Impedance Control (VIC) strategy for DGs. This method implements fixed virtual resistance and virtual inductance to standardize the output impedance characteristics of parallel-connected inverters, thereby minimizing impedance discrepancies and enhancing system stability through increased damping. The theoretical analysis and design of the VIC were validated through …

Two-Dimensional Inverse Scattering Solution Using Nurbs Expansion And A Deep Learning Method, Meisam Shafaee

Turkish Journal of Physics

This paper presents a novel framework for solving two-dimensional (2D) inverse scattering problems by integrating nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS) parameterization with convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Tra ditional pixel/voxel-based deep learning methods often suffer from high dimensionality and discretization artifacts, while purely geometric approaches lack robust inversion mechanisms. To address these limitations, we propose a hybrid frame work where the relative permittivity profile of an unknown scatterer is compactly represented as a NURBS surface, parameterized by a sparse set of control points and weights. This approach reduces the problem dimensionality over 16 times. On the other hand, using NURBS expansion ensures …

From Stability To Spintronics: A Comprehensive High-Throughput Investigation Of 2d Mf4 Lieb Lattices, Uğur Yorulmaz

Turkish Journal of Physics

The research on two-dimensional (2D) materials which have intrinsic magnetism and exotic electronic struc tures is an important quest in condensed matter physics. The Lieb lattice offers a unique platform for studying strongly correlated electron phenomena. In this work, we systematically investigated the structural, dynamical, mechanical, electronic, and magnetic properties of monolayer transition metal tetrafluorides (MF4, where M = Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Sc, Ta, Ti, V, W, and Y) arranged in a 2D Lieb lattice, using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) with Hubbard (U) corrections. Our …

Diffeomorphisms In Quantum Black Hole Interiors, Ian William Bornhoeft

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

We begin with an introduction to canonical Loop Quantum Gravity. We then introduce a notion of residual diffeomorphism covariance in quantum Kantowski–Sachs (KS), describing the interior of a Schwarzschild black hole. We solve for the family of Hamiltonian constraint operators satisfying an associated covariance condition, as well as parity invariance, preservation of the Bohr Hilbert space of Loop Quantum KS and a correct (naive) classical limit. We further explore imposing minimality of the number of momentum shift terms, and compare the solution with other Hamiltonian constraints proposed for Loop Quantum KS in the literature. In particular, we discuss a lapse …

Computational Approaches To Laser Alignment And Phase Correction, Joseph E. Temple

ATU Scholars Symposium

The goal of our work is to automate the tedious and delicate process of optical alignment (rotating mirrors, shifting lenses by millimeters, and iterating endlessly) in the context of generating vortex beams from a Gaussian laser beam. We create vortex beams by illuminating a digital hologram displayed on a spatial light modulator (SLM). Two main issues arise: misalignment and phase imperfections in the input beam. If the beam does not pass directly through the center of the SLM, or if it deviates from an ideal Gaussian profile, the resulting vortex beam becomes distorted.

Last semester, we developed two methods to …

Creating A Floating Volumetric Display, Joy Skaggs, Hope Skinner

ATU Scholars Symposium

The public has long been interested in futuristic technology, especially ‘holograms’ and their possibilities, evidenced by pop culture icons such as Iron Man and the popularity of the Sci-Fi Genre. The popular term ‘hologram’ actually describes the phenomenon of a volumetric display, where light is directed to form 3D forms in the air. Attempts to create these volumetric displays began as early as 1988 with creators like Gregg Favelora and Alan Sullivan. As technology improved, so too did the ability to make the futuristic ‘hologram’ a reality.

Another common form of these interactive holograms is the floating display, which may …