Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Swift-Bat Guano Follow-Up Of Gravitational-Wave Triggers In The Third Ligo–Virgo–Kagra Observing Run, Gayathri Raman, Samuele Ronchini, James Delaunay, Aaron Tohuvavohu, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas, Soma Mukherjee, Gaukhar Nurbek, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present results from a search for X-ray/gamma-ray counterparts of gravitational-wave (GW) candidates from the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA network using the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (Swift-BAT). The search includes 636 GW candidates received with low latency, 86 of which have been confirmed by the offline analysis and included in the third cumulative Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogs (GWTC-3). Targeted searches were carried out on the entire GW sample using the maximum-likelihood Non-imaging Transient Reconstruction and Temporal Search pipeline on the BAT data made available via the GUANO infrastructure. We do not detect any significant electromagnetic emission that is …

Semilinear Klein-Gordon Equation In Space-Time Of Black Hole Which Is Gaining Mass In The Universe With Accelerating Expansion, Karen Yagdjian, Anahit Galstyan

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper, we consider the propagation of waves in the space-time of a single black hole with a static Schwarzschild radius in the expanding universe, namely, the solutions of the linear and semilinear Klein-Gordon equations.

Modelling The Behavior Of Human Crowds As Coupled Active-Passive Dynamics Of Interacting Particle Systems, Thoa Thieu, Roderick Melnik

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The modelling of human crowd behaviors offers many challenging questions to science in general. Specifically, the social human behavior consists of many physiological and psychological processes which are still largely unknown. To model reliably such human crowd systems with complex social interactions, stochastic tools play an important role for the setting of mathematical formulations of the problems. In this work, using the description based on an exclusion principle, we study a statistical-mechanics-based lattice gas model for active-passive population dynamics with an application to human crowd behaviors. We provide representative numerical examples for the evacuation dynamics of human crowds, where the …

Hierarchical Search Method For Gravitational Waves From Stellar-Mass Binary Black Holes In Noisy Space-Based Detector Data, Yao Fu, Yan Wang, Soumya D. Mohanty

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Future space-based laser interferometric detectors, such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), will be able to detect gravitational waves (GWs) generated during the inspiral phase of stellar-mass binary black holes (SmBBHs). These detections contain a wealth of important information concerning astrophysical formation channels and fundamental physics constraints. However, the detection and characterization of GWs from SmBBHs poses a formidable data analysis challenge, arising from the large number of wave cycles that make the search extremely sensitive to mismatches in signal and template parameters in a likelihood-based approach. This makes the search for the maximum of the likelihood function over …

Group Approach To Geometric Quantization Of Two Physical Groups, Paul Bracken

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Physical systems as a rule are associated with a symmetry group. One way of quantizing the system is to use this symmetry group to construct a geometric form of quantization procedure. This group quantization procedure is discussed and illustrated here on two different systems. Group cohomology and extensions of groups play a key role. Many important groups in physics can be extended by the local U(1) group. The process is introduced here and applied to two nontrivial systems.

Voronoi Conjecture For Five-Dimensional Parallelohedra, Alexey Garber

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We prove the Voronoi conjecture for five-dimensional parallelohedra. Namely, we show that if a convex five-dimensional polytope P tiles ℝ5 with translations, then P is an affine image of the Dirichlet-Voronoi polytope for a five-dimensional lattice.
/="/">Our proof is based on an exhaustive combinatorial analysis of possible dual 3-cells and incident dual 4-cells encoding local structures around two-dimensional faces of five-dimensional parallelohedron P and their edges aiming to prove existence of a free direction for P paired with new properties established for parallelohedra (in any dimension) that have a free direction that guarantee the Voronoi conjecture for P.

Stochastic Games Of Parental Vaccination Decision Making And Bounded Rationality, Andras Balogh, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Vaccination is an effective strategy to prevent the spread of diseases. However, hesitancy and rejection of vaccines, particularly in childhood immunizations, pose challenges to vaccination efforts. In that case, according to rational decision-making and classical utility theory, parents weigh the costs of vaccination against the costs of not vaccinating their children. Social norms influence these parental decision-making outcomes, deviating their decisions from rationality. Additionally, variability in values of utilities stemming from stochasticity in parents' perceptions over time can lead to further deviations from rationality. In this paper, we employ independent white noises to represent stochastic fluctuations in parental perceptions of …

A Review Of Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, And Robots Through The Lens Of Stakeholder Theory, Michael J. Matthews, Su Runkun, Lindsey Yonish, Shawn Mcclean, Joel Koopman, Kai Chi Yam

Management Faculty Publications

With the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, intelligent machines are affecting the daily lives of multiple organizational stakeholders. However, despite the continued expansion of intelligent machines in society, management scholarship has generally lagged, and current frameworks are under-equipped to offer meaningful guidance regarding the intersection of intelligent machines and organizations. We address this issue via a multidisciplinary review and a novel framework of intelligent machines and value creation. First, we discuss the characteristics of intelligent machines (i.e., autonomy, learning, inscrutability, and materiality) and how variation in these characteristics impacts their affordances and, subsequently, the value offered to stakeholders. We …

Effective Learning Strategies In Stem, Muzammil Arshad, Rebecca R. Romatoski, Mamoona Muzammil

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Effective learning strategies were developed, implemented, and applied at five separate institutions of higher education in the United States, and one in the Middle East. The research has been dedicated to determining effective learning strategies for student learning and success. The research series developed grading rubric for homework and exams, developed a course structure for hybrid and face-to-face courses in STEM, and studied the impact of the syllabus design on student learning and motivation. A pedagogical methodology constituting the designed course structure was utilized to use various activity-based modules. Course lectures were designed to utilize PowerPoint presentations and/or OneNote as …

Construction Of Electrically Heated Pavement Using Recycled Waste Rubber Tires, Islam M. Radwan, Mohamed Abdel-Raheem

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Accumulated snow on roads presents a dual risk of accidents and financial losses. Conventional de-icing methods, which rely on chemicals, salt, and heavy machinery, are unsustainable and detrimental to both the environment and infrastructure. Furthermore, they demand significant labor and pose hazards in densely populated areas. In response, heated pavement systems such as hydronic and electrically conductive concrete (ECON) have gained traction for mitigating snow accumulation on roads. However, the use of carbon fiber and carbon black in ECON raises costs and depletes valuable resources. This research introduces an inventive and sustainable approach to address snow accumulation on rigid pavements …

Order-2 Delaunay Triangulations Optimize Angles, Herbert Edelsbrunner, Alexey Garber, Morteza Saghafian

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The local angle property of the (order-1) Delaunay triangulations of a generic set in R2" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">R2R2 asserts that the sum of two angles opposite a common edge is less than π. This paper extends this property to higher order and uses it to generalize two classic properties from order-1 to order-2: (1) among the complete level-2 hypertriangulations of a generic point set in R2" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">R2R2, the order-2 Delaunay triangulation lexicographically maximizes the sorted angle vector; (2) among the maximal level-2 hypertriangulations …

Dft Study Of The Mechanism Of Selective Hydrogenation Of Acetylene By Rhodium Single-Atom Catalyst Supported On Hy Zeolite, Melisa Su Yordanlı, Roberto Escobar, Jessica Meza, Deniz Akgül, Yuxin Zhao, Alper Uzun, Fatma Ahu Akin, Viktorya Aviyente, Abdurrahman Cagri Atesin, Tülay A. Ateşin

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The selectivity of acetylene hydrogenation by the Rh single-atom catalyst (SAC) supported on HY zeolite was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and a 5/83T quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) embedded cluster model. The calculated activation barrier (ΔG‡) for the oxidative addition of dihydrogen to the Rh metal center (15.9 kcal/mol) is lower in energy than that for the σ-bond metathesis of dihydrogen to the Rh—C bond (22.7 kcal/mol) and the Rh—O bond (28.4 kcal/mol). The activation barriers of the oxidative addition of subsequent dihydrogen molecules are significantly higher than that of the oxidative addition of the first dihydrogen molecule. These …

Microplastic Accumulation In Soils: Unlocking The Mechanism And Biodegradation Pathway, Minh-Ky Nguyen, Md. Refat Jahan Rakib, Myung Hwangbo, Jongsun Kim

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental issue, with significant quantities of microplastics (MPs) contaminating terrestrial ecosystems. In agro-environments and soils, the abundance of MPs has been reported to range from 3.7 to 40,800 items per kilogram. Once MPs enter the soil, their accumulation can have several detrimental effects on the soil environment and ecosystems. This review summarizes current research on the biodegradation of MP-contaminated soils. The primary mechanism of MP biodegradation involves enzymatic oxidation and hydrolysis, leading to the formation of functional groups. The interaction between microorganisms and polymers involves various processes, including colonization, biofilm formation, and biodegradation. Microorganisms …

Ramanujan–Fine Integrals For Level 10, Shaun Cooper, Timothy Huber, Jeffery Opoku

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We investigate the question of when an eta quotient is a derivative of a formal power series with integer coefficients and present an analysis in the case of level 10. As a consequence, we establish and classify an infinite number of integral evaluations such as

∫e−2π/10√0q∏j=1∞(1−qj)3(1−q10j)8(1−q5j)7dq=14(10−45–√−−−−−−−−√−1). We describe how the results were found and give reasons for why it is reasonable to conjecture that the list is complete for level 10.

Image Of Mathematics: A Case Study Of Two Women's Early Mathematics Experiences, Lili Zhou, Elizabeth Suazo-Flores, Bima Sapkota, Rose Mbewe, Jill Newton

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

People often view mathematics as abstract, cold, and irrelevant to real life, and their school experiences likely influence such views. In this case study, we investigated the mathematics experiences of two women who participated in an afterschool girls-only STEM club 30 years ago when they were in fifth and sixth grades. We explored how the participants' early in- and out-of-school experiences informed their images of mathematics. We collected data through a survey, focus group interviews, and individual interviews. We employed oral history methods in interviews to grant participants a significant degree of freedom to retrospectively recount and reconstruct their experiences. …

Single-Molecule Dna-Flow Stretching Assay As A Versatile Hybrid Tool For Investigating Dna-Protein Interactions, Sadaf Shehzad, Hyeongjun Kim

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Single-molecule techniques allow researchers to investigate individual molecules and obtain unprecedented details of the heterogeneous nature of biological entities. They play instrumental roles in studying DNA-protein interactions due to the ability to visualize DNA or proteins and to manipulate individual DNA molecules by applying force or torque. Here, we describe single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assays as hybrid tools that combine forces with fluorescence. We also review how widely these assays are utilized in elucidating working mechanisms of DNA-binding proteins. Additionally, we provide a brief explanation of various efforts to prepare DNA substrates with desired internal protein-binding sequences. More complicated needs for …

Development And Validation Of Rapid Edna Detection Method For Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon Flavescens: A Field Study In South Texas, Usa, Sakib Tahmid Rishan, Richard Kline, Md Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The conservation of freshwater turtle species depends on precise and effective monitoring techniques. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a potential method for identifying cryptic and elusive turtle species in aquatic ecosystems. eDNA analysis can help to identify key regions for conservation efforts and monitor changes in population levels over time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid eDNA detection method for the yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens, an indicator species that is endangered in some states in the USA), which inhabits local oxbow lakes (e.g., resacas) in Cameron County, South Texas. A species-specific nested PCR …

Optimal Reconstruction Of The Hellings And Downs Correlation, Bruce Allen, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) detect gravitational waves (GWs) via the correlations they create in the arrival times of pulses from different pulsars. The mean correlation, a function of the angle between the directions to two pulsars, was predicted in 1983 by Hellings and Downs (HD). Observation of this angular pattern is crucial evidence that GWs are present, so PTAs “reconstruct the HD curve” by estimating the correlation using pulsar pairs separated by similar angles. Several studies have examined the amount by which this curve is expected to differ from the HD mean. The variance arises because (a) a finite set …

Spatial And Spectral Characterization Of The Gravitational-Wave Background With The Pta Optimal Statistic, Kyle A. Gersbach, Stephen R. Taylor, Patrick M. Meyers, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) have made tremendous progress and are now showing strong evidence for the gravitational-wave background (GWB). Further probing the origin and characteristics of the GWB will require more generalized analysis techniques. Bayesian methods are most often used but can be computationally expensive. On the other hand, frequentist methods, like the PTA optimal statistic (OS), are more computationally efficient and can produce results that are complementary to Bayesian methods, allowing for stronger statistical cases to be built from a confluence of different approaches. In this work we expand the capabilities of the OS through a technique we call …

Can Trichoderma Spp. Contribute To The Bioremediation And Biostimulation Of Plants In Soil Contaminated With Herbicides?, Elaine Damiani Conte, Elton José Da Rosa, Gabriel Rieth Silvestrini, Daiane Da Silva Motta, Christiane Fernandes De Oliveira, Carine Cocco, Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti, Taísa Dal Magro, Joséli Schwambach

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma spp. in the bioremediation of herbicides and biostimulation of plants in herbicide-contaminated soils. In the first phase, the experiment followed a completely randomized design in a 4 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme with five replications, four strains of Trichoderma spp., three herbicides, and four herbicide doses. The mycelial growth speed index (MGSI) of Trichoderma spp. was obtained by growing it in a Petri dish with PDA associated with different doses of herbicides and evaluated every 24 h for 10 days. Results indicated the selection ofTrichoderma harzianumT1A to continue …

Elastomeric Nanocomposite With Solvent-Free, One Step, In Situ Shear Exfoliation Of Graphite To Graphene, Ashiqur Rahman, Md Abdur Rahman Bin Abdus Salam, Matthew G. Boebinger, Ahmed Touhami, Jennifer Lynch, Ali Ashraf

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

A graphene nanoflake (GNF)-enhanced elastomeric nanocomposite (G-EMC) is fabricated following an innovative, cost-effective, single-step, in situ shear exfoliation (ISE) method from low-cost bulk material, graphite, where uniform mixing happens simultaneously within the elastomer matrix. Electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and photo-induced force microscopy results show good dispersion of GNFs with exfoliation to a few layers and uniform distribution in the elastomer matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows less than 1% oxygen-containing functional groups/impurity, enhanced bonding through the formation of edge sites as fracture occurs across the GNF basal plane, and pi-pi interactions with newly exfoliated planar basal plane surfaces of …

A Second Candidate Magnetic Helium Core White Dwarf And 3 Other Variable White Dwarfs In The Globular Cluster Ngc 6397, Manuel Pichardo Marcano, Liliana E. Rivera Sandoval, Thomas J. Maccarone, Rene D. Rohrmann, Leandro G. Althaus, Craig O. Heinke, Diogo Belloni, Arash Bahramian

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Using archival Hubble Space Telescope observations, we report the discovery of four variable low-mass white dwarfs (WDs; 0.18 M⊙ ≤ M ≤ 0.5 M⊙) in the globular cluster NGC 6397. One source exhibits a periodic optical modulation of 5.21 ± 0.02 hr, which we interpret as potentially due to the rotation of a magnetic helium core WD (He WD). This makes this candidate the second magnetic He WD in NGC 6397, and one of the few He WDs with a measured rotation period. The other three candidates show aperiodic variability, with a change in magnitude ranging from ∼0.11 …

Data For Research Collaboration And Co-Authorship In The Gulf Of Mexico, 2000–2018, Owen Temby, Dongkyu Kim, Juliet Vallejo

Datasets

This dataset documents research collaboration and co-authorship among organizations engaged in environmental science in the Gulf of Mexico from 2000 to 2018. The data were compiled through bibliometric analysis of scientific articles, with each record containing publication-level and author affiliation information, as well as institutional and country codes. The dataset provides the basis for network analysis of collaborative patterns among institutions in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Variable definitions and data structure are described in the accompanying README file.

Evaluation Of The Stability Of Argan Oil Nanoemulsions Formulated And Optimized Through Experimental Design For Dermatological Applications, Yousra Mdarhri, Ikram Bouziane, Narjisse Mokhtari, Lama Rissouli, Ahmed Touhami, Fakhita Touhami, Mohamed Chabbi

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Argan oil is a highly sought-after natural product renowned for its therapeutic and rejuvenating properties. This study focused on harnessing its dermatological bioactivity by developing stable nanoemulsions through a simple low-energy method using a single non-ionic surfactant. The composition and properties of Argan oil were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), and quality indexes, adhering to international standards. The effect of system composition on stability was evaluated using a pseudo-ternary phase diagram and Phase Inversion Composition (PIC) emulsification technique. Optimal process parameters for producing stable nanoemulsion were determined through Response Surface Methodology (RSM) analysis. The resulting nanoemulsions …

Editorial Insights: Reflections On The Volume And Charge To The Field, Heather Howell, Meghan Shaughnessy, Barbara Stengal, Carrie Wilkerson Lee, Liza Bondurant, Bima Sapkota, Gregory Benoit, Yvonne Lai

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this, the final chapter of Section 3, the authors document an interview that took place in June of 2024, as the editorial team wrapped up reviews of the chapters submitted to this volume. The interview was led by two of the advisory board members, Meghan Shaughnessy and Barbara Stengal, and included the editorial group, Heather Howell, Carrie Wilkerson Lee, Liza Bondurant, and Bima Sapkota, and other members of the advisory board, Greg Benoit and Yvonne Lai. The motivation to create this interview-based chapter was to capture some of the authors' own learning and reflection as they brought the volume …

Dataset On Indoor And Outdoor Pm2.5 Concentrations At Two Residences Using Low-Cost Sensors In The Rio Grande Valley Region Of South Texas, Kabir Bahadur Shah, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Mkhitar A. Hobosyan, Armando Montes, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of the criteria air pollutants associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. This dataset contains hourly and daily averaged measurements of PM2.5 concentrations (µg/m3) collected from two residential homes in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Region of South Texas, using PurpleAir-II-SD low-cost sensor. In addition, the dataset also includes temperature (ºC) and relative humidity (%) measured by the sensors. The data was collected for one month during the summer season from indoor (kitchen) and outdoor (front yard) environments at two locations: Home-1 in Weslaco City from June 16, 2024, to July 16, 2024, …

Examining The Presence And Effects Of Coherence And Fragmentation In The Gulf Of Maine Fishery Management Network, Derek A. Katznelson, Antonia Sohns, Dongkyu Kim, Evelyn Roozee, William Donner, Andrew M. Song, Jasper R. De Vries, Owen Temby, Gordon M. Hickey

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Natural resource management networks cohere due to mutual dependencies and fragment, in part, due to the perceived risks of interaction. However, research on these networks has tended to accept coherence a priori rather than problematizing dependence, and few studies exist on interorganizational risk perception. This article presents the results of a study operationalizing these concepts and measuring the distribution of three types of dependence (capital, legitimacy, and regulatory) and two types of perceived risk (performance and sanction) among nearly fifty stakeholder groups and organizations participating in the management of fisheries in the binational Gulf of Maine. The analysis reveals an …

Carbon Sequestration Through Conservation Tillage In Sandy Soils Of Arid And Semi-Arid Climates: A Meta-Analysis, Samantha Lynn Colunga, Leila Wahab, Alejandro Fierro-Cabo, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Highlights

• Under CST, SOC increased by 12.74 ± 1.46 % in sandy soils with 5 of the 6 practices contributing to this rise.
• SOC increased up to 15 years post-CST conversion, but more research is needed to assess long-term effects.
• SOC increased by 13% in soils with over 56% sand content under CST.
• SOC increased by 15% in the 0-20 cm depth under CST, with no significant increase at greater depths.
• SOC increased under CST when nitrogen was applied at rates up to 100 kg N ha⁻¹.

Abstract

This meta-analysis assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) percent changes in sandy soils, …

Evaluating Annual Precipitation Extremes In The Us Great Plains Using Prism Data, Sumiaya Amin Preota, Gaurav Talukdar, Sam Zipper

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding hydroclimatic extremes in the U.S. Great Plains (USGP) is crucial for effective water resource management, resiliency of agricultural systems, and mitigation of climate change impacts. This study examines changing hydroclimatic conditions in the USGP, with a focus on annual-resolution precipitation trends and extremes over the past 119 years (1904–2022) using precipitation data from the gridded PRISM climate dataset. We categorized annual-scale precipitation totals into six categories of hydroclimatic extremes: (1) isolated wet extremes, (2) isolated dry extremes, (3) dry-to-dry recurring extremes, (4) wet-to-wet recurring extremes, (5) dry-to-wet whiplash extremes, and (6) wet-to-dry whiplash extremes. “Recurring” and “whiplash” are both …

Nesting Population Trend Of The Leatherback Sea Turtle In Bocas Del Toro Province And Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama For The Period 2002–2022, Sonia Gutiérrez Parejo, Susan E. Piacenza, Raúl García, Cristina Ordóñez, Roldán A. Valverde

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Sea turtle biologists have made sustained efforts to understand the global status of leatherback sea turtle populations. However, despite progress in assessments, demographics, and ecology, key uncertainties persist in tracking leatherback population trends. Trend analyses have historically focused on nesting beaches, with nest counts providing a widely used index for population abundance. Here, we analysed 20 years of annual nest abundance at four main nesting beaches (Soropta, Bluff, Playa Larga and Chiriquí) in Bocas del Toro province and the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama, which constitute the largest nesting leatherback sea turtle population in Central America. We conducted daily nest counts during …