Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Chemistry (44)
- Mathematics (22)
- Computer Sciences (18)
- Environmental Sciences (18)
- Physics (8)
-
- Earth Sciences (7)
- Geology (6)
- Life Sciences (6)
- Arts and Humanities (5)
- Geometry and Topology (5)
- Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (5)
- Sustainability (5)
- Applied Mathematics (4)
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (4)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (4)
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (3)
- Biochemistry (3)
- Environmental Chemistry (3)
- Environmental Education (3)
- History (3)
- Natural Resources and Conservation (3)
- Theory and Algorithms (3)
- Analysis (2)
- Astrophysics and Astronomy (2)
- Business (2)
- Economics (2)
- Energy Policy (2)
- Environmental Monitoring (2)
- European History (2)
- Institution
- Keyword
-
- Undergraduate research (4)
- Conservation (2)
- Topology (2)
- 2D (1)
- Abelian (1)
-
- Acadia National Park (1)
- Acoustics (1)
- Acquisition (1)
- Activation (Chemistry) (1)
- Age estimation (1)
- Aggregation (1)
- Air quality (1)
- Air quality standards (1)
- Algebraic topology (1)
- Algorithm (1)
- Algorithms (1)
- Alkanes (1)
- Alkylidenes (1)
- Amino Acids (1)
- Amphibians -- Diseases (1)
- Anal rays (1)
- Anthropocene (1)
- Antimicrobial (1)
- Arginine (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- Artificial Neural Networks (1)
- Atmosphere (1)
- Atomically thin materials (1)
- Axiomatic systems (1)
- Bedform asymmetry (1)
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 30 of 115
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Biodiversity Of Larval And Adult Dragonflies And Damselflies (Odonata) Of Interdunal Wetlands At Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Devon Volz
Honors Theses
The effects of climate change on insects in the United States have yet to be fully understood. Research on the insect populations of Lake Michigan’s interdunal wetlands has been particularly limited. As these vibrant habitats are already at risk of destruction due to increased development, it is vital to have a working knowledge of the species that are living in the habitat. However, to date, there have been no studies on assemblages of interdunal wetlands in Michigan. Examining community compositions is critical to understanding the ecological problems that could occur in the future. This study is the first to look …
Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim
Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim
Honors Theses
Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic molecules generated from the reaction of creatin(in)e and amino acids at high cooking temperatures in meat. Previous research has shown that replacing creatine with arginine leads to new, uncharacterized HCA molecules. This research entails implementing and optimizing the preparative HPLC analysis of extracts from multiple burnings of arginine with phenylalanine. Isolated fractions from the prep-HPLC analysis were further analyzed using the Ames test to identify mutagenic compounds. Prep-HPLC provides quality control to the burning process along with isolation of larger quantities of materials for further characterization and molecular structure identification.
An Analysis Of Prevalence Of Chytrid Fungus In An Amphibian Assemblage In Middle Tennessee, Cameron Brocco
An Analysis Of Prevalence Of Chytrid Fungus In An Amphibian Assemblage In Middle Tennessee, Cameron Brocco
Honors Theses
Chytridiomycosis is an infectious, fungal disease largely seen in amphibians, which is caused by the highly virulent, zoosporic, pathogenic, single-celled fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). It is known to cause epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, skin ulcerations, and fatalities by asystolic cardiac arrest either from shifts in electrolytes or increased acidity in the blood plasma. Previous research has demonstrated that urban water bodies have a higher prevalence of chytrid fungus than rural water bodies. Researchers have also found that chytrid is more prevalent in open canopy habitats than closed canopy habitats. Furthermore, it is implicated in global population declines and local extinctions in …
Effectiveness Of Conservation Education At The Chattanooga Zoo, Luke Allen Black
Effectiveness Of Conservation Education At The Chattanooga Zoo, Luke Allen Black
Honors Theses
Conservation is the central focus of many modern zoos and aquariums. These zoos incorporate guest education to facilitate a connection between zoo guests and animal conservation. I conducted a study at the Chattanooga Zoo and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga which examined two modern zoo education approaches. The two approaches utilized in the study are currently used in keeper chats at the Chattanooga Zoo. The first approach is an emotional appeal (an appeal to the personalities of the chimps at the zoo) and the second approach is a utilization of a take-action initiative (recycling cell phones to reduce mining …
A Biotic Survey Of Outcroppings And Pinctada Longisquamosa In Oyster Pond, San Salvador Island, Bahamas, One Year After Hurricane Joaquin, Ashton Selah Mitchell
A Biotic Survey Of Outcroppings And Pinctada Longisquamosa In Oyster Pond, San Salvador Island, Bahamas, One Year After Hurricane Joaquin, Ashton Selah Mitchell
Honors Theses
Oyster Pond is one of the marine inland ponds located on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Oyster Pond has connections to the ocean through a series of conduits in the pond, which cause the salinity of the pond to be marine pond, except after a hurricane and during a drought. Oyster Pond has a variety of marine life such as algae, small fish, and invertebrates occurring in mangroves, flocculent, conduits, and biotic outcroppings. The focus of this research was to evaluate the impact of the 2015 Hurricane Joaquin (17 months later) on water chemistry and the marine life of the biotic …
Predicting The Author Of Twitter Posts With Markov Chain Analysis, Daniel Freeman
Predicting The Author Of Twitter Posts With Markov Chain Analysis, Daniel Freeman
Honors Theses
Given a set of text with known authors, is it possible to take new text, not knowing who wrote it, and correctly identify the author? One way to do this is to analyze the text using Markov chains. This research project will first attempt to answer this question using books available in the public domain. Using what is learned from trying to identify authors of books, the primary goal of this project is to identify the best way to guess the author of a post on the social media network Twitter using Markov chains.
Developmental Steroids And Vitamins: Identified And Quantified In Predatory Lady Beetles, Andrea Hixson
Developmental Steroids And Vitamins: Identified And Quantified In Predatory Lady Beetles, Andrea Hixson
Honors Theses
Autumn brings ladybeetles into homes to seek shelter during the winter, which is a nuisance. Their bites may induce an allergic reaction resulting in painful rashes. Predatory ladybeetles have been used as a biological control agents. Not only do they feed on ecological pests, they also feed on the saps of ripe fruits reducing the value of the damaged crop. Two species of ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) will be examined to determine the quantities of steroids and vitamins used throughout their life stages. The species examined are native, Hippodamia convergens, of North America, and an invasive, Harmonia axyridis, of Asia. The …
Statistical Linear Mixed Models For Evaluation Of Training Program In Hand Surgery Chief Residents, Zoe Michelle Ross
Statistical Linear Mixed Models For Evaluation Of Training Program In Hand Surgery Chief Residents, Zoe Michelle Ross
Honors Theses
Resident clinics (RCs) are intended to catalyze the achievement of educational milestones through progressively autonomous patient care. However, few studies quantify their effect on competency-based surgical education, and no previous publications focus on hand surgery RCs. This study aims to use statistical theories and knowledge of descriptive statistics and inference statistics, such as confidence intervals, two sample t-tests, correlation and association tests, as well as statistical model building such as analysis of variance with random effects and mixed linear models. We hypothesize that the higher a resident’s training years, the higher the autonomy score (quality of surgery) will be. We …
The Clean Air Act And Its Impact On Ground Level Ozone Pollution Levels In Los Angeles, California, Rebecca G. Ford
The Clean Air Act And Its Impact On Ground Level Ozone Pollution Levels In Los Angeles, California, Rebecca G. Ford
Honors Theses
Ozone (O3) occurs naturally as a protective, ultraviolet radiation-shielding “Ozone Layer” in the Stratosphere and as a photochemically produced pollutant in the Troposphere. The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 regulates the emission and concentration of O3 and five other atmospheric pollutants. Since the signing of the CAA, the ongoing question has been whether or not the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and regulatory policies have had an effect on decreasing O3 concentration. The Los Angeles metropolitan area is a prime example of how O3 can be a public health hazard, and taint a …
The Effects Of E-Cigarette Exposure On Cell Viability And Gene Expression, Christine Hale
The Effects Of E-Cigarette Exposure On Cell Viability And Gene Expression, Christine Hale
Honors Theses
Marketed as a safer alternative to tobacco products, the popularity of e-cigarette use is on the rise. However, little is known about the potential health risks associated with their use. Many e-cigarette filling solutions are known to contain significant levels of tobacco alkaloids, including nicotine, anabasine, myosmine and cotinine. Using a panel of lung cell cultures distinguished by differences in sex and disease status, this study addresses the in vitro effects of common tobacco alkaloids found in e-cigarettes on cell proliferation and gene expression. We hypothesize that alkaloid exposure of lung cells is associated with abnormal proliferation and gene expression, …
Octahedral Ruthenium(Ii) Complexes For C-H Bond Activation And Olefin Hydroarylation, Patrick Z. Zdunek
Octahedral Ruthenium(Ii) Complexes For C-H Bond Activation And Olefin Hydroarylation, Patrick Z. Zdunek
Honors Theses
The study of inert C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons has been gaining interest. As these hydrocarbons are used in the production of many consumables such as fuel, plastics, and detergents, it is necessary to efficiently utilize the finite quantity of petroleum feedstocks. Transition metal complexes are incorporated as catalysts into synthetic routes to create new C-X (X = C, N, O) bonds in order to increase the chemical value of organic molecules. The complex [Ru(η6-p-cymene){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Ph)(OTf)] (1) (P{OCH2CF3}3 = tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphite, Ph = phenyl, OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) was prepared and tested for functionality as a catalyst in olefin hydroarylation. Catalytic reactions …
The Axiom Of Choice In Topology, Ruoxuan Jia
The Axiom Of Choice In Topology, Ruoxuan Jia
Honors Theses
Cantor believed that properties holding for finite sets might also hold for infinite sets. One such property involves choices; the Axiom of Choice states that we can always form a set by choosing one element from each set in a collection of pairwise disjoint non-empty sets. Since its introduction in 1904, this seemingly simple statement has been somewhat controversial because it is magically powerful in mathematics in general and topology in particular. In this paper, we will discuss some essential concepts in topology such as compactness and continuity, how special topologies such as the product topology and compactification are defined, …
Comparative Analysis Of Drosophila Athabasca Cuticular Hydrocarbons For Generation Of Synthetic Material To Study Evolutionary Implications, Brittany Gay
Honors Theses
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have been studied extensively and their roles explored for various species of insects. However, only a single reported study has focused on the role of CHCs in Drosophila athabasca, a species of fruit fly native to North America. The work herein describes advances in identification, synthesis and quantification of biologically relevant CHCs present in this species. Identifying CHC profile differences among D. athabasca sub-races (Eastern A, Eastern B and WestNorthern) was performed using multiple analytical techniques. Synthesis of proposed structures confirmed their identity. External standard curves were used to quantify CHCs. GC-MS analysis of CHCs from several …
New York State's Zero Emission Credits: Exploring The Drivers And Significance Of Nuclear Energy Subsidization In The Empire State, Michael R. Sciascia
New York State's Zero Emission Credits: Exploring The Drivers And Significance Of Nuclear Energy Subsidization In The Empire State, Michael R. Sciascia
Honors Theses
This thesis reviews New York State's recently announced subsidization of nuclear energy, which has been a subject of dissent due to its cost, propagation of nuclear activity, and potential unlawfulness in its influence on competition within wholesale energy markets. Examining the structure and recent trends within New York's energy market and their effect on the state's nuclear energy industry will provide insight into the necessity of such subsidization in preserving in-state nuclear generation. Through an analysis of the expected costs, economic impact, and influence on statewide carbon emissions, the true significance of this legislation and New York's motivations behind its …
Attracting Human Attention Using Robotic Facial Expressions And Gestures, Venus Yu
Attracting Human Attention Using Robotic Facial Expressions And Gestures, Venus Yu
Honors Theses
Robots will soon interact with humans in settings outside of a lab. Since it will be likely that their bodies will not be as developed as their programming, they will not have the complex limbs needed to perform simple tasks. Thus they will need to seek human assistance by asking them for help appropriately. But how will these robots know how to act? This research will focus on the specific nonverbal behaviors a robot could use to attract someone’s attention and convince them to interact with the robot. In particular, it will need the correct facial expressions and gestures to …
A Systematic Investigation Of The Effects Of Chain Length And Ionic Head Group On Perfluoroalkyl Acid Binding To Human Serum Albumin, Jake Ulrich
Honors Theses
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are industrial chemicals used in everyday products ranging from non-stick coatings to fire-fighting foam. PFAAs are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and are bioaccumulative, persistent and toxic. Unlike other CECs, PFAAs bioaccumulate in areas of high protein concentration, such as the kidneys, liver and blood; therefore, it is vital to study PFAA-protein interactions. Human Serum Albumin (HSA) is the model protein used for PFAA-protein studies because it is the most abundant protein in the human body and it binds and transports endogenous and exogenous ligands. Previously, researchers have investigated PFAA-HSA binding, but most of these studies have …
Choice Of Choice: Paradoxical Results Surrounding Of The Axiom Of Choice, Connor Hurley
Choice Of Choice: Paradoxical Results Surrounding Of The Axiom Of Choice, Connor Hurley
Honors Theses
When people think of mathematics they think "right or wrong," "empirically correct" or "empirically incorrect." Formalized logically valid arguments are one important step to achieving this definitive answer; however, what about the underlying assumptions to the argument? In the early 20th century, mathematicians set out to formalize these assumptions, which in mathematics are known as axioms. The most common of these axiomatic systems was the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms. The standard axioms in this system were accepted by mathematicians as obvious, and deemed by some to be sufficiently powerful to prove all the intuitive theorems already known to mathematicians. However, this system …
Impact Of The Nuclear Phase-Out In Germany: Examining The Costs And Benefits Of Aggresive Energy Policy In Relation To A Sustainable Future, David M. Olio
Honors Theses
The German nuclear phase-out legislation of 2011 will cause substantial changes in the country's energy mix, energy generation and electricity grid demands. The phase-out exists as part of the Energiewende, or energy transition, occurring in Germany where renewable energy has been subsidized to replace the share of nuclear energy, which is decreasing annually and moving towards a complete phase-out in 2022. This paper will analyze the benefits and costs of Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power. First, it will explore the dynamic history of German energy policy and discuss how a history of anti-nuclear sentiments led to the nuclear …
Effective Ann Topologies For Use As Genotypes For Evaluating Design And Fabrication, John R. Peterson
Effective Ann Topologies For Use As Genotypes For Evaluating Design And Fabrication, John R. Peterson
Honors Theses
There is promise in the field of Evolutionary Design for systems that evolve not only what to manufacture but also how to manufacture it. EvoFab is a system that uses Genetic Algorithms to evolve Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) which control a modified 3d-printer with the goal of automating some level of invention. ANNs are an obvious choice for use with a system like this as they are canonically evolvable encodings, and have been successfully used as evolved control systems in Evolutionary Robotics. However, there is little known about how the structural characteristics of an ANN affect the shapes that can …
Bitcoin Volatility And Currency Acceptance: A Time-Series Approach, Francis Rocco
Bitcoin Volatility And Currency Acceptance: A Time-Series Approach, Francis Rocco
Honors Theses
Virtual currencies emerged in 2009 as alternatives to traditional methods of payment, offering faster transaction speeds and increased privacy. The prime example of these currencies is Bitcoin. Prior literature in the past five years has generally predicted that bitcoin would fail to supplant an existing widely traded currency, but the volatility of the currency has been decreasing since then. I test Dowd and Greenaway’s (1993) currency acceptance model using recent data on Bitcoin, including Bitcoin volatility. This paper will show whether Bitcoin's ability to act as a store of value and its level of price volatility affect the number of …
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Honors Theses
Invasive species are recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding what factors facilitate invasion is of great conservation value, as this will allow for more specific and targeted conservation efforts related to non-native species. Knowledge of factors that contribute to invasion play an important role in conservation of particularly unique habitats, such as the iconic United States National Parks. Though National Parks have some legal protections against some forms of habitat degradation, they are still vulnerable to the introduction of non-natives. The purpose of this study is to characterize species invasion in National Parks and identify what environmental conditions …
An Investigation Of The Four Vertex Theorem And Its Converse, Rebeka Kelmar
An Investigation Of The Four Vertex Theorem And Its Converse, Rebeka Kelmar
Honors Theses
In the study of curves there are many interesting theorems. One such theorem is the four vertex theorem and its converse. The four vertex theorem says that any simple closed curve, other than a circle, must have four vertices. This means that the curvature of the curve must have at least four local maxima/minima. In my project I explore different proofs of the four vertex theorem and its history. I also look at a modified converse of the four vertex theorem which says that any continuous real- valued function on the circle that has at least two local maxima and …
Elliptic Curve Cryptology, Francis Rocco
Elliptic Curve Cryptology, Francis Rocco
Honors Theses
In today's digital age of conducting large portions of daily life over the Internet, privacy in communication is challenged extremely frequently and confidential information has become a valuable commodity. Even with the use of commonly employed encryption practices, private information is often revealed to attackers. This issue motivates the discussion of cryptology, the study of confidential transmissions over insecure channels, which is divided into two branches of cryptography and cryptanalysis. In this paper, we will first develop a foundation to understand cryptography and send confidential transmissions among mutual parties. Next, we will provide an expository analysis of elliptic curves and …
Accurately Simulating The Battle Of Thermopylae To Analyze "What If" Scenarios, Josh Wasserman
Accurately Simulating The Battle Of Thermopylae To Analyze "What If" Scenarios, Josh Wasserman
Honors Theses
The Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE) was a last ditch effort to stall the Persian army as it marched south toward Athens. Led by Leonidas and his personal guard of 300 Spartans, a citizen army of Greeks was able to delay a Persian army of over 100,000 soldiers at the town of Thermopylae for several days. Although the Greeks were ultimately defeated at Thermopylae, the battle provided enough time for the Greek states to regroup and plan a counter attack, eventually defeating the invading Persians. This battle was crucial not only for the preservation of Greek independence, but also the …
Provenance Of And Age Of Granitoid And Sandstone Clasts In Conglomerates Of The Paleocene To Upper Cretaceous Yakutat Group, Russell Fjord, Alaska, Alexander Dolcimascolo
Provenance Of And Age Of Granitoid And Sandstone Clasts In Conglomerates Of The Paleocene To Upper Cretaceous Yakutat Group, Russell Fjord, Alaska, Alexander Dolcimascolo
Honors Theses
The Paleocene to Upper Cretaceous Yakutat Group consists of a flysch facies. A conglomerate occurs in two places in Russell Fjord, and the composition and age of clasts bears on tectonic reconstructions. One site (#23) occurs in what is mapped as flysch and one in the mélange (#25), but the conglomerates are essentially identical. They contain clasts of sandstone, greenstone, limestone, marble, chert, and plutonic rocks that are clast supported, and interbedded with sandstones that contain coalified plant fragments. The maximum depositional age (MDA) of the U/Pb-dated zircons from the sandstone is 65.9 ± 1.8 Ma and 65.6 ± 2.2 …
Ion-Beam Analysis Of Artificial Turf, Morgan Clark
Ion-Beam Analysis Of Artificial Turf, Morgan Clark
Honors Theses
There have been considerable concerns in recent years that artificial turf used in many playing fields around the world may be unsafe. While the presence of heavy metals and carcinogenic chemicals have been reported in a number of studies more data and research are needed to determine if there is a real link between artificial turf and adverse health effects. We performed PIXE and PIGE analysis of artificial turf blade and infill samples to search for heavy metals and other possibly toxic substances. The samples were bombarded with proton beams from the 1.1-MV Pelletron tandem accelerator in the Union College …
Multi-Agent Simulation Of The Battle Of Ankara, 1402, Ruili Tang
Multi-Agent Simulation Of The Battle Of Ankara, 1402, Ruili Tang
Honors Theses
In 1402, at the north of city Ankara, Turkey, a battle between Ottoman Empire and Tamerlane Empire decided the fate of Europe and Asia. Although historians largely agree on the general battle procedure, the details are still open to dispute. Several factors may have contributed to the Ottoman defeat, such as the overwhelming size of Tamerlanes army, poisoned water, the tactical formations of the military units, and betrayal by the Tartar cavalry in the Ottoman left wing. The approach is divided into two stages: the simulation stage, which provides data to analyze the complex interactions of autonomous agents, and the …
Colliding Wind Binaries With Orbital Motion: Line Wind Formulation, Brendan O'Connor
Colliding Wind Binaries With Orbital Motion: Line Wind Formulation, Brendan O'Connor
Honors Theses
Stars lose mass in the form of supersonic winds. In a binary star system, these winds collide to produce shockwaves. Such stellar wind collisions are observed in many binary star systems. Due to the orbital motion of the system, a trailing spiral structure is produced. We present a solution method in the co- rotating frame of the stars, which allow us to consider steady state solutions. This requires the inclusion of Coriolis and centrifugal forces, including their effects on the pre-shock winds, for which we were restricted to orbital speed slower than wind speeds. We assume efficient post-shock cooling, which …
Apatite Chemistry And Zoning In The Roseau Valley, Dominica, Lesser Antilles, Katherine Swager
Apatite Chemistry And Zoning In The Roseau Valley, Dominica, Lesser Antilles, Katherine Swager
Honors Theses
The island of Dominica is located in the center of the Lesser Antilles island arc. Located in the southwestern part of the island, the Roseau Valley contains a thick and complex stratigraphy of pyroclastic flows that terminate in the sea on the western side of the island near the capital of Roseau, likely originating from the Wotten Waven caldera, now partially capped by the Micotrin dome (Sigurdsson, 1972). We have dated several ignimbrite deposit using U-Th analyses of zircon rims. The ages of five deposits within the valley show polymodal distributions, suggesting multiple periods of crystallization (~6 ka - 250 …
A Multibeam Bathymetric Investigation Of Changes In Bedform Morphology Of The Little River Inlet As A Result Of Hurricane Matthew, Malarie O'Brien
A Multibeam Bathymetric Investigation Of Changes In Bedform Morphology Of The Little River Inlet As A Result Of Hurricane Matthew, Malarie O'Brien
Honors Theses
A hybrid scholarly-research paper on the use of multibeam sonar data in seafloor mapping and seafloor analysis was written to satisfy Honors Program requirements. Literature review of multibeam sonar technology explored the improving concept of mapping the seafloor via acoustic methods. The review also investigated improvements and applications of multibeam data analysis techniques, which have the ability to map the seafloor as well as characterize the seafloor by morphology or sediment content. The review then explored previous studies conducted on the Little River Inlet, SC, finding the inlet to be particularly understudied in the field of sediment morphology. Three multibeam …