Digital Commons Network^™

The Conditioning Of Reservoir Computing And Ng-Rc For Forecasting And The Effects Of Temporal Overparameterization, Daniel Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir computing and "Next-generation reservoir computing" built on nonlinear vector autoregression are algorithms for predicting time series given past observations. Both algorithms have been successful in predicting some chaotic dynamical systems, but this success is not theoretically well understood. This paper considers the conditioning of both algorithms and the nature of the solutions found. With either algorithm, the least squares problem which is solved to give parameters as a function of the time series data is ill-conditioned, leading to parameter non-identifiability. Both algorithms fall into the class of "sloppy models." Standard practice to regularize either algorithm includes a bias towards …

Focus On Form: Perceptions Of Portuguese Immersion Teacher When Implementing The Capa Model, Priscila Isabel Rebicki Prestes

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates Portuguese Dual Language Immersion (DLI) teachers' perceptions when implementing the CAPA Model, a structured Focus on Form Instruction (FFI) approach aimed at improving grammatical accuracy in content-based learning. While immersion students develop strong communication skills, research highlights persistent grammatical inaccuracies due to the emphasis on meaning-based instruction. The CAPA Model seeks to bridge this gap by integrating explicit grammar instruction, fostering metalinguistic awareness, and enhancing linguistic accuracy without detracting from content learning. Findings reveal that teachers recognize the model’s benefits but face challenges such as limited planning time, a lack of pre-adapted materials, and difficulties implementing all …

Surface-Texture Fabrication Of Zirconia-Toughened Alumina Using Focused Ion-Beam Machining, Kameron M. Woodruff

Theses and Dissertations

Focused ion-beam machining (FIBM), a precise form of micro-machining, was tested for feasibility in the manufacturing of microscopic dimples in zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA), a wear resistant ceramic used in artificial joint replacements. The interaction between the ion-beam and the ceramic was characterized in terms of material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, and notable irregularities (e.g. pitting, steps at vertical faces). These characteristics were used to design and machine patterns of microscopic dimples for tribological testing. The dimple size and pattern area were limited due to a slow MRR and high cost of milling. No significant difference in the coefficient of …

Gnn Convergence And Accuracy Analysis On Contextual Stochastic Block Models, Trevor Garrity

Theses and Dissertations

Contextual Stochastic Block Models (cSBMs) are simple generative graph models commonly used to benchmark the performance of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). In this thesis, I prove how inducing symmetries on general, nonlinear GNNs improves their cross entropy on cSBMs, and I derive the limiting accuracy of linear Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) on cSBMs. I use these results to derive the functional form of cross-entropy optimal GCNs on cSBMs and compare them to accuracy optimal GCNs.

Isolation Structure Simulation And Measurement To Reduce Transmit-Receive Coupling In Compact X-Band Fmcw Radar, Bruce E. Averill

Theses and Dissertations

Transmit-receive isolation in a compact X-band FMCW radar antenna system is critical for system performance. A set of candidate isolation structures are explored. In the process, performance of a commercial FDTD EM simulation software package is evaluated for antenna array modelling. Noise parameters of receiver electronics on a prototype radar processing front-end are tested. Improvements to the BYU Microwave Lab RF anechoic chamber are also reported, with a focus on measurement repeatability and antenna pattern angular resolution.

Exploring Representations And Inductive Bias For Machine Learning Tasks In Knot Theory, Nathaniel Driggs

Theses and Dissertations

Knot theory is a branch of mathematics that studies embeddings of the circle in $\mathbb{R}^3$ that are equivalent up to ambient isotopy. A link is a knot with one or more component. Knots and links have invariants, or functions from each knot to a set such as the integers or a family of polynomials. Predicting invariants can help us approximate them, understand them better, and find useful ways of representing knots and useful models for other machine learning tasks in knot theory. I perform many supervised learning experiments, predicting signature on a large, wide-ranging dataset using 5 different models and …

Power Series Rings Over Noncommutative Rings: Symmetry, Reversibility, And Semicommutativity, Nolan Ison

Theses and Dissertations

Let R be an associative, unital ring. One topic of interest is to assert R has some property, then determine what properties the polynomial ring R[x] and the power series ring R[[x]] are guaranteed to have. There are many relaxations of commutativity in rings. For example, a ring is said to be symmetric if abc = 0 implies acb = 0 for all a, b, c ∈ R. We discuss a certain construction of symmetric rings that we hope will yield the existence of a symmetric ring R such that the set of nilpotent elements in the power series ring …

Sample Preparation And Acquisition Strategies To Improve Accessibility And Proteome Depth In Single-Cell And Low-Input Proteomics, Sara Madisyn Johnston

Theses and Dissertations

Proteins are responsible for important cellular functions and processes including regulation, structural integrity, signaling, transport, and immune functions. Proteomics directly identifies these proteins and enables deeper characterization of the dynamic cellular environment beyond the capabilities of genomics and transcriptomics. Single-cell proteomics further enhances this approach by capturing cellular heterogeneity, which bulk proteomics obscures due to averaging protein expression across large cell populations. Despite significant advances in single-cell proteomics, continued innovation is necessary to increase workflow accessibility and throughput, minimize peptide losses, and achieve comprehensive coverage of the proteome. This dissertation addresses these challenges by developing improved sample preparation methods, two-dimensional …

Non-Destructive Testing Of Stressed Materials Using X-Ray Diffraction And Second-Harmonic Generation, Melissa Nguyen Lumogdang

Theses and Dissertations

A material in use, anywhere from a plastic bag to common infrastructure, will eventually fail from deformation. When strained, the material chemical structure can change, and that change is dependent on many factors, including the amount of strain and strain rate. Understanding the relationship between physical properties and structural changes due to deformation can allow structural manipulation to achieve the desired physical properties. Additionally, research into non-destructive testing (NDT) methods can be used as supporting evidence for replacing destructive testing methods and possible infield stress monitoring. In this dissertation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) are the main NDT …

Homomorphisms Of Peano Continua To Berbered Peano Continua, Logan Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

The study of wild spaces, Peano continua that contain points that are not semi-locally simply connected, has been of integral importance in the study of low-dimensional wild topology. Mainly investigated from the view point of algebraic topology, the fundamental group has been found to be an indespensible tool in describing these spaces, and their local behavior. In particular, using methods developed by Cannon, Conner, Eda, and Kent demonstrated that all maps from Peano continua to planar or one-dimensional Peano continua are determined uniquely up to homotopy class by their induced homomorphisms on fundamental groups, and that fundamental groups are a …

Innovations In Sample Handling Automation To Increase Accessibility Of Sample-Limited Proteomics, Nathaniel Ben Axtell

Theses and Dissertations

Innovation is the vehicle that drives scientific research forward in virtually every field. Advances in genome sequencing propelled the human genome project to completion in 2003 and set the stage for the era of proteomics. Now decades of innovation in liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) have improved sensitivity sufficiently to enable single-cell proteomics and other sample-limited studies. Single-cell proteomics reveal patterns of gene expression that are often obscured by bulk-scale proteomics, leading to the identification of new protein biomarker candidates. Sensitive targeted proteomics is the key to successful translation of low-abundance protein assays into clinical applications. With a …

Influence Of The Duchesne Fault Zone On Oil Production In The Uinta Basin, Utah, Alan Matthew Ketring

Theses and Dissertations

The Duchesne Fault Zone (DFZ) is a series of east-west trending en echelon faults that developed synchronously above the neutral surface of the Duchesne Anticline during the Laramide Orogeny. The Duchesne Graben (DG) formed by decrease in displacement downward toward the neutral surface. Lake Canyon, a region that exposes the subsurface geology on the western portion of the DFZ, serves as an analog for fold formation within the saline facies of the lower Green River Formation, while Indian Canyon, an area created from the dip-slip faulting of the DG, provides clear exposures of the faulting within the sandstone-limestone facies of …

Reconnaissance Investigation Of Soil-Structure Harmonics And Building Collapse Patterns In The 2024 Noto And 2016 Kumamoto Japan Earthquakes, Nathan Cole Chesnut

Theses and Dissertations

This study used ambient vibration data collected during a reconnaissance mission to assess whether harmonics between structures and the underlying soil played a significant role in the pattern of buildings that collapsed in the magnitude 7.5 Noto Japan earthquake on January 1, 2024, and the magnitude 6.2 to 7.0 Kumamoto Japan earthquake series that occurred between April 14 and 16, 2016. Portable seismometers were used to measure the natural soil and structural frequencies of vibration under ambient loading at sites in Wajima, a city located on the Noto Peninsula, and in four locations in and around Kumamoto City. Soil frequency …

Improving Efficiency Of Wind Flow Modeling For Wildfire Applications Using Analytical Parameterization And Neural Networks, Laura Jane Housley

Theses and Dissertations

We model wind velocity fields for applications in wildfire modeling. We improve the accuracy of the mass-conserving WindNinja solver without compromising efficient temporal complexity. We consider two approaches: the parameterization method and the neural network method. In the parameterization method, we analyze eddies in the wake of obstacles by parameterizing cavity zones as inspired by the research by Kaplan & Dinar in 1996. Kaplan & Dinar parameterize cavity zones around rectangular buildings, and we approximate a continuous landscape with rectangular buildings in order to extend this parameterization to complex terrains. In the neural network method, we train a U-net CNN …

Language Choice And Russian Course Enrollment Among University Students, Emma Calderwood

Theses and Dissertations

University Russian enrollments have been steadily declining in the United States since 2009 (MLA, 2023). No research has been done to examine student motivation for studying Russian since long before the 2022 increase in conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This study surveys two groups of students at the university level: students enrolled in BYU 101-level language classes, and students enrolled in Russian classes at six universities in the United States. The findings report that the most common reasons students choose to take university Russian classes is because they have a general interest in the language, they want to travel to …

Studying Cultural Change With Transhistorical Semantic Directions, Travis Daichi Ashby

Theses and Dissertations

This study advances the use of diachronic word embeddings in cultural sociology, contributing both methodologically and substantively. Methodologically, it synthesizes best practices for constructing semantic directions and addresses challenges arising from diachronic embeddings, including missing data and semantic drift. Substantively, it examines historical changes in schemas and conceptual metaphors related to "processing." By analyzing the changing associations between processing-related words (e.g., "raw" and "refined") and evaluative categories like authenticity, valence, and aesthetics, the study examines whether word-level changes amongst schematically-related words indicate deeper cultural shifts at the schematic level. Findings indicate a growing association between processed states and inauthenticity, a …

Inquiry-Style Planetarium Activities, Emma Rasmussen Groberg

Theses and Dissertations

Introductory astronomy students often face challenges in exploring their own ideas and investigating astronomical phenomena due to the limitations of nighttime observation and weather conditions. Planetariums overcome these barriers by simulating the night sky, making it accessible during class sessions regardless of external conditions. This provides an opportunity to engage students in inquiry-based activities, where they are presented with a scenario and encouraged to use their own reasoning to reach conclusions. In this study, we implemented inquiry-based activities in PHSCS 127 using the planetarium as an investigative tool. We developed four activities designed to help students explore their ideas and …

Reconstruction Of Cad Models Into Single Trimmed Surfaces, Rebecca Rasmussen

Theses and Dissertations

Classical methods by which computer-aided design (CAD) geometries are represented for both design and analysis involve meshing. However, the current process of converting a CAD model into an analysis-suitable surface mesh for the automotive industry takes a significant amount of time and labor, results in a faceted representation of the original smooth geometry, and generates representations that are prohibitively expensive for use in high-order explicit dynamics computations. This research focuses on accurately and efficiently rebuilding given CAD surfaces or meshes, such as shell-like components of automotive vehicles, into smooth, single trimmed spline surface approximations (rather than typical piecewise-linear approximations), making …

Modeling The Kepler Systems With Multiple Transiting Planets, Daniel Kempton Jones

Theses and Dissertations

As the study of exoplanets, planets not in our solar system, has developed, new observational constraints have illuminated the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Among these observations, the true distributions of planetary mass, radius, and density are at the forefront. NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has provided an enormous wealth of data on the exoplanet radius distribution as well as a significant fraction of mass measurements through the detection of planet-planet dynamical interactions. The best method for studying these exoplanetary systems is with a photodynamical model which combines an n-body integrator with lightcurve model to generate synthetic lightcurves. To support …

Organismal Classification And The Phylogenetic Tree: Improving Its Teaching Using Decision-Based Learning, Melissa Cavan

Theses and Dissertations

For a lot of students, learning biology is like learning a new language. There are new terms and concepts that a lot of new students have never heard of. Evolution is the cornerstone for understanding biology, yet it is one of the more misunderstood topics. In combination with learning new terms and concepts some students come in with preconceived ideas about evolution or misunderstandings about how evolution and the phylogenetic tree work. The research indicates instructors attempting active learning techniques to increase understanding of the phylogenetic tree with mixed results, where there appears to be some improvement but nothing significant. …

Prime Factors Of The Third Cyclotomic Polynomial Of The Same Form And Inequalities Related To Odd Perfect Numbers, Cody Stenberg Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis relates some results about odd perfect numbers and factorizations of cyclotomic polynomials evaluated on integers. In Chapter 2 we parameterize solutions to the equality $\Phi_3(x)=\Phi_3(a_1)\Phi_3(a_2)\cdots\Phi_3(a_n)$, where $x,a_i\in \Z_{>0}$ for $1\leq i\leq n$, $\Phi_3$ is the third cyclotomic polynomial, and each $\Phi_3(a_i)$ is prime, in the cases that $n=2,3,4,5$. Let $N$ be an odd perfect number. Let $\omega(N)$ be the number of distinct prime factors of $N$ and let $\Omega(N)$ be the total number (counting multiplicity) of prime factors of $N$. In Chapter 3, we use a result from Chapter 2 to show that $\frac{99}{37}\omega(N) - \frac{187}{37} \leq …

A Novel Approach To Detect Shapes Of Constant Width, Ian D. Monk

Theses and Dissertations

Bodies of constant width have been studied mathematically since Euler and have found various applications in engineering and other areas. In this paper, we seek to develop novel tools to gain deeper insights into these shapes and to better be able to analyze them. The idea which motivates the development in this paper is as follows: a body has constant width if and only if the chord connecting the intersections of the boundary of the body with each pair of parallel hyper planes which lie tangent to a body lies perpendicular to the hyper planes.This is a known fact and …

Modeling Differential Expression In Scrna-Seq Data With A Difference Of Two Negative Binomial Distributions, Alicia Petrany

Theses and Dissertations

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful high throughput sequencing technology that quantifies the transcriptome at a single cell resolution. Differential expression (DE) analysis is a key scRNA-seq analysis task that identifies genes with statistically significant expression changes in response to biological stimuli. Existing DE methods inherently attempt to determine whether two sets of negative binomially distributed read counts are significantly different but lack exact testing strategies to do so. This work introduces a novel theoretical distribution, the Difference of Two Negative Binomial Distributions (DOTNB), and implements it within DEGage, an R package for DE analysis. Benchmarking DEGage against …

The Impact Of Sensory Sensitivity On Nutritional Outcomes In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Rachel M. Qualley

Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objective: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are at increased risk of malnutrition due to restrictive dietary patterns and behavioral difficulties at mealtimes. Research suggests that heightened sensory sensitivity, a characteristic accompanying several of these disorders, may be a contributing factor. However, the effects of sensory sensitivity on nutritional outcomes across distinct NDDs have not been fully explored. This review aims to examine the relationship between sensory sensitivity and nutritional status, food preferences, and eating behaviors in children with NDDs, specifically investigating how atypical sensory processing might influence dietary intake.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, …

The Crystal Ball Is Cloudy: Teacher Preparation Programs' Challenges In Predicting Effective Teaching From Teacher Characteristics, Benjamin Pacini

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher preparation programs (TPPs) stand to benefit if they can reliably link pre-service teacher characteristics with later teaching quality--for example, by better supporting underperformers and spotting high-potential candidates early. In this study, I use data from a university in the Mountain West to analyze the relationships between pre-college student characteristics and teaching evaluation scores during student teaching, as scored on Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FFT) rubric. My findings suggest that no significant relationship exists between FFT scores and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, or poverty. Pre-college academic variables (i.e., GPA and standardized test scores) show small but …

A Complete Guide To Multi-Fidelity No-U-Turn Sampling With Application To An Inverse Wave Problem, Paul Smith

Theses and Dissertations

We employ a Bayesian framework to solve an inverse problem that aims to identify the initial condition distribution of wave propagation, given a limited set of observable data. To optimize sampling efficiency, we introduce a multi-fidelity No-U-Turn Sampler (MF-NUTS) with an adaptive mass matrix. Maximizing sampling efficiency is crucial, as our ultimate goal is to extend this methodology to a large-scale inverse problem to identify the source parameters of historical tsunami-generating earthquakes. The forward model for tsunami propagation (GeoClaw) requires over 20 minutes of supercomputer time on 24 cores to evaluate each sample for a triple-fault rupture, necessitating a strategy …

Studies Evaluating Practices For Water Conservation: In-Situ Sensors For Determining Soil Field Capacity And Water Application Savings From Rebate-Driven Residential Landscape Transformations, Madison E. Martini

Theses and Dissertations

Water conservation is a critical issue that requires solutions to address growing water scarcity. In both agricultural and urban settings, targeting conservation efforts is essential for lasting progress as well as protection of communities and ecosystems. This research focuses on identifying practical means to reduce water use by studying separate conservation strategies in urban and agricultural contexts. Given their interdependence, addressing water use in both sectors is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. Agricultural water conservation relies on efficient irrigation practices, which depend on accurately determining soil field capacity (FC)--the amount of water soil can retain after excess …

Optimizing Aircraft Taxi Processes: A Novel Cost-Minimizing Queue Discipline For The Pushback To Runway Process, Kevin James

Theses and Dissertations

Optimization of the aircraft taxi process can significantly decrease operating costs for air carriers, especially at major airports where congestion on the ramp is a primary contributor to taxi times. To improve the efficiency of this process, we propose a novel queue discipline which mitigates pushback delays through a dynamic reordering of clearance deliveries. As an alternative to FIFO, the proposed discipline accounts for aircraft delays at the gate before the aircraft enters the queueing system. Our proposed system implements pushback control to allow for controller-imposed variability in runway queueing. To validate our proposed queue discipline, we provide a computational …

Measuring The Effects Of The Leaves On Stalk Strength And Dynamic Response In Maize, Grant C. Ogilvie

Theses and Dissertations

Maize is one of the most widely cultivated grains in the world, making it crucial to world food security and important economically. One major problem in maize production is stalk lodging (greensnap), which results in billions of dollars in lost harvests annually for maize farmers in the US alone. Understanding the mechanical properties of maize plants is crucial to addressing this problem. Previous studies have suggested that the leaf blades and leaf sheaths affect maize mechanical properties. The objectives of this thesis are twofold: to present measurement techniques for the stalk bending strength, damping ratio, and natural frequency of maize …

A Novel Wrench Decomposition And Development Of A Large-Scale Soft Robot For Displacement-Based Human-Robot Collaborative Manipulation, Dallin Cordon

Theses and Dissertations

This work represents an examination of various facets of physical human-robot collaborative manipulation and the implementation of compliant, soft-robotic manipulators. A survey of physical human-human interaction and haptic communication is presented, alongside an investigation into the decomposition of force and torque components that enable effective human-robot collaboration. To address the inconsistent terminology found in previous literature, a standardized framework for force decomposition is proposed. A new taxonomy is introduced to categorize the force components involved in collaborative manipulation tasks. This taxonomy clarifies the role of each component in an agent's applied force during task execution and provides a structured framework …