Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Using Calculus To Plan An Open-Air Concert, Timur Kalandarov

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

A concert is a mass entertainment event held indoors, at concert halls, or outdoors (open-air festivals). These two formats differ greatly from each other. However, the goal of both events remains the same – to allow the audience to enjoy the musical performance. Indoor halls are designed for the best acoustics of sound. They are often circular and let sound waves travel around the inside of the building, like an echo bouncing back and forth. This makes the audience feel like they are surrounded by sound. Such places already have outlined spots for mounting music equipment with the highest efficiency. …

Dynamically Weighted Balanced Loss: Class Imbalanced Learning And Confidence Calibration Of Deep Neural Networks, K. Ruwani M. Fernando, Chris P. Tsokos

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Imbalanced class distribution is an inherent problem in many real-world classification tasks where the minority class is the class of interest. Many conventional statistical and machine learning classification algorithms are subject to frequency bias, and learning discriminating boundaries between the minority and majority classes could be challenging. To address the class distribution imbalance in deep learning, we propose a class rebalancing strategy based on a class-balanced dynamically weighted loss function where weights are assigned based on the class frequency and predicted probability of ground-truth class. The ability of dynamic weighting scheme to self-adapt its weights depending on the prediction scores …

The Dangers Of Lift On Parked Planes: General Aviation Airport Safety, Robert Malloy

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The focus of this paper is to investigate proper aircraft management for safety on an airfield. This is accomplished by looking at lift caused by powerful winds to the aircrafts stored on an airfield, and the tension it places on the rope that secures them. This work could be used to determine when aircrafts are in high-risk and need to be stored either in hangars or moved to other airports prior to storms. The calculations used to determine these conclusions are also explored in the paper.

Mathematical Reconstruction Of A Traffic Crash, Benjamin Covert

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The objective is to find the impact speeds of two motor vehicles involved in a traffic crash. The calculations take into account the approach (pre-collision) and departure (post collision) angles, as well as weights and post collision speeds of both vehicles. The data is provided by Timothy Sleyzack who investigated this traffic collision. The conclusions confirm the validity of the use of Conservation of Linear Momentum in the field of traffic crash reconstruction.

Calculating Probable Theoretical Offspring Genotype In Fruit Flies, Megan Keller

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Being able to calculate an offspring's theoretical genotype is critical in genetic sciences. We calculate the theoretical genotype and phenotype of fruit fly offspring. Using the product rule, we determine the probability for each trait and then for each genotype. In conclusion, we calculate 64 different genotypes that are supposed to be possible, but only 8 phenotypes are possible.

Emergency Communications Deficiency Locator, Austin Collins

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) is the newest edition to Life Safety in the state of Florida. The Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1) section 11.10.1 states that “In all new and existing buildings, minimum radio signal strength for fire department communications shall be maintained at a level determined by the authority having jurisdiction (Committee NFPA 1: Fire Code 2018). That authority having jurisdiction for our local Tampa Bay area is the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue department and they have posted their own requirements along with the Florida Senate for emergency communication standards. All existing “Hi-rise” buildings, 75 feet tall …

Analyzing Piney Point’S Wastewater Discharge Rate, Josephina Reyman

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Implicit differentiation is used in order to find the cubic feet of water dumped into Tampa Bay per hour from the Piney Point reservoir. To get to moles from cubic feet, a series of conversions is done while Le Chatelier’s principle explains how an increase in HPO₄ ^2- (hydrogen phosphate) in Tampa Bay is going to affect algae growth. The rate of moles of HPO₄ ^2- is analyzed as well as the consequences that come with dumping copious amounts of fertilizer water into an aquatic environment.

Evaluating The Improvement In Dna Fingerprinting, Dani Dray

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

DNA fingerprinting is a forensic technique used to create patterns that are unique to a person’s DNA. Previously, these fingerprints were made from 13 different segments of DNA, but today they are made from the 20 ones. The fundamental principle of counting is used to determine how much of an improvement was made after adding the 7 additional DNA segments. It is found that this addition greatly reduces the likelihood of two people having the same exact fingerprint, therefore improving the accuracy and reliability of DNA fingerprinting.

Predicting The Cost Of Dental Care Using A Probability Model, Nadine Wehbe

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This paper uses survey data to present a probability model that allows dental offices to predict patient costs. The quantitative model is useful for developing and accepting capitation rates. It accounts for whether the care is initial care or maintenance care, the type of dental care (such as operative, prosthetics, or periodontics), and different age groups, all of which affect the cost of dental treatment.

Possible Contamination From Rainwater In Community Pool, David Mcgregor

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The project is meant to create an equation that can be used to estimate the amount of organic pollutant – bacteria - that is present in a swimming pool per day from rainwater. This equation is derived through a differential equation of the rate in minus the rate out. The created differential equation is an ordinary linear differential equation and is solved using an integration factor. The general solution is then converted into a specific equation using an initial condition. The resulting equation provides an approximate number of organic contaminants x(t) present in the pool after an …

Volume And Cost Of Cylindrical Shaped Silo With Conical Roof, Gabriel Mitzakoff Parola

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project utilizes integral calculus to find the exact volume of a non-uniform cylindrical-shaped silo used to store wheat and calculate the cost of material utilized to build such silo. Due to its non-uniform shape, the silo is divided into two sections and the volume of each is calculated. The final volume for the silo with the measurements provided is approximately 2330.02 meters cubic and surface area of 1074.96 meters squared, which is considered to be a large capacity silo. With such a large capacity silo there are costs to be considered, such as the material cost which is calculated …

Calculating The Probability Of Constitutional Isomers Of Pentane, Mary-Margaret Dare

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Depending on the reagent, and orientation of collisions within a chemical reaction, organic molecules can be present as different constitutional isomers of the same molecule. We can analyze the likelihood of getting a mixture of pentane with certain conformers. Based on this, we find that there are 16 potential conformers, but 13 are identical structures, meaning only three are distinct from each other. Using the product rule, we then demonstrate how to go about calculating the probability of specific conformers, including specific identical structures, being present in a mixture, and then we demonstrate that process is strictly within the three …

Surge Functions And Drug Interactions, Olta Tarko

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The objective of this project is to analyze how surge functions work to understand the way drug concentration levels in the bloodstream of a human body vary over time after an initial dose. A surge function increases rapidly at the beginning of the dosage and drops slowly after it reaches its peak. It is important to realize when a certain drug reaches its peak and how long the effects will last on a patient, so a second drug can be administered without risking negative interactions. We explain the calculations used in order to properly understand the curve of a drug’s …

Moment Of Inertia In Applied Calculus, Saad Habib

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This paper demonstrates the usefulness of calculus in structural/continuum mechanics. Calculus in structural/continuum mechanics is used to calculate mass, volume, centre of mass, moment of inertia and in solutions of differential equations. In this paper, we will use calculus to calculate moment of inertia. The area moment of inertia of a surface measures the resistance to deflection of the cross section to bending or buckling. Moment of inertia is used by engineers of inertia to determine the state of stress in a cross section and the amount of inertia. It represents a mathematical concept that depends on the size and …

An Analysis Of Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Professional Noticing Skills In A Mathematics Education Setting, Liza Bondurant, Lisa Poling, Diana Moss

Journal of Practitioner Research

Prospective elementary mathematics teachers (PTs) were asked to analyze 28 videos of cognitive interviews. The purpose of this study was to determine if experiences analyzing videos would lead to improvements in PTs’ professional noticing skills. Using a coding schema that reflected three levels of understanding (periphery, transitional, and accomplished), a frequency table was constructed that allowed PTs’ use and understanding of a noticing framework to be analyzed. Findings indicate that experiences analyzing videos leads to improvements in PTs’ professional noticing skills.

Discrete Models And Algorithms For Analyzing Dna Rearrangements, Jasper Braun

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this work, language and tools are introduced, which model many-to-many mappings that comprise DNA rearrangements in nature. Existing theoretical models and data processing methods depend on the premise that DNA segments in the rearrangement precursor are in a clear one-to-one correspondence with their destinations in the recombined product. However, ambiguities in the rearrangement maps obtained from the ciliate species Oxytricha trifallax violate this assumption demonstrating a necessity for the adaptation of theory and practice.

In order to take into account the ambiguities in the rearrangement maps, generalizations of existing recombination models are proposed. Edges in an ordered graph model …

On Some Problems On Polynomial Interpolation In Several Variables, Brian Jon Tuesink

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Polynomial approximation is a long studied process, with a history dating back to the 1700s, At which time Lagrange, Newton and Taylor developed their famed approximation methods. At that time, it was discovered that every Taylor projection (projector) is the pointwise limit of Lagrange projections. This leaves open a rather large and intriguing question, What happens in several variables?

To this end we define a linear idempotent operator to be an ideal projector whenever its kernel is an ideal. No matter the number of variables, Taylor projections and Lagrange projections are always ideal projectors, and it is well known that …

On The P(X)-Laplace Equation In Carnot Groups, Robert D. Freeman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we examine the p(x)-Laplace equation in the context of Carnot groups. The p(x)-Laplace equation is the prototype equation for a class of nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations having so-called nonstandard growth conditions. An important and useful tool in studying these types of equations is viscosity theory. We prove a p()-Poincar´e-type inequality and use it to prove the equivalence of potential theoretic weak solutions and viscosity solutions to the p(x)-Laplace equation. We exploit this equivalence to prove a Rad´o-type removability result for solutions to the p-Laplace equation in the Heisenberg group. Then we extend this result to the …

Development And Assessment Of A Continuing Education Unit In Quantitative Literacy For High School Stem Teachers, Craig P. Mcclure

Numeracy

Influencing the teaching of quantitative literacy at all levels of education can be difficult due to the many demands placed on educators. In a continuing education course, public high school science teachers participated in a pilot study of a program on quantitative literacy, involving defining quantitative literacy, how it is beneficial to students, examples of quantitative literacy education, and how it may be supported in the science classroom. Surveys administered before and after the unit indicate an improvement in the teachers’ understanding of quantitative literacy, and a follow-up survey indicates that the unit impacted classroom practice. Results support the conclusion …

Clustering Methods For Gene Expression Data Of Oxytricha Trifallax, Kyle Houfek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clustering is a data analysis method which is used in a large variety of research fields. Many different algorithms exist for clustering, and none of them can be considered universally better than the others. Different methods of clustering are expounded upon, including hierarchical clustering and k-means clustering. Topological data analysis is also described, showing how topology can be used to infer structural information about the data set. We discuss how one finds the validity of clusters, as well as an optimal clustering method, and conclude with how we used various clustering methods to analyze transcriptome data from the ciliate Oxytricha …

Global And Stochastic Dynamics Of Diffusive Hindmarsh-Rose Equations In Neurodynamics, Chi Phan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consisting of three parts is the study of the open problems of global dynamics of diffusive Hindmarsh-Rose equations, random dynamics of the stochastic Hindmarsh-Rose equations with multiplicative noise and additive noise respectively, and synchronization of boundary coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neuron networks.

In Part I (Chapters 2, 3 and 4) of this dissertation, we study the global dynamics for the single neuron model of diffusive and partly diffusive Hindmarsh-Rose equations on a three-dimensional bounded domain. The existence of global attractors as well as its regularity and structure are established by showing the absorbing properties and the asymptotically compact characteristics, especially …

Restricted Isometric Projections For Differentiable Manifolds And Applications, Vasile Pop

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The restricted isometry property (RIP) is at the center of important developments in compressive sensing. In R^N, RIP establishes the success of sparse recovery via basis pursuit for measurement matrices with small restricted isometry constants δ_2s < 1=3. A weaker condition, δ_2s < 0:6246, is actually sufficient to guarantee stable and robust recovery of all s-sparse vectors via l₁-minimization. In infinite Hilbert spaces, a random linear map satisfies a general RIP with high probability and allow recovering and extending many known compressive sampling results. This thesis extends the known restricted isometric projection of sparse datasets of vectors embedded in the Euclidean spaces RN down into low-dimensional subspaces R^m ,m << N …