Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Development Of High-Resolution Meteor Spectra Analysis, Zhangqing Yang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Meteoroids are often billions of years old and as they ablate and ionize in the atmosphere, they give off light leaving us clues to the history of our solar system. In addition, their presence imposes serious risks to our equipment and astronauts in space. My research deals with analyzing High-Resolution Meteor Spectra, which are obtained by separating the light Meteors give off through a Diffraction Grating. Firstly, as the Meteor’s speed during ablation affects its spectrum, the position, speed, and trajectory of 40 well-tracked Meteors (picked from over 500) were determined using the programs Metal and Mirfit. Then, the spectra …

Simulating And Modelling Adaptive Walks With The Nk Model, Abigail K. Kushnir

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This presentation outlines results obtained by simulating adaptive walks using the NK model. We were interested in how the mutation bias affects the distribution of fitness effects and how we could use our results to form theoretical equations to model the behaviour of a walk. Necessary biological background is also described.

A Kuramoto Model Approach To Predicting Chaotic Systems With Echo State Networks, Sophie Wu, Jackson Howe

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

An Echo State Network (ESN) with an activation function based on the Kuramoto model (Kuramoto ESN) is implemented, which can successfully predict the logistic map for a non-trivial number of time steps. The reservoir in the prediction stage exhibits binary dynamics when a good prediction is made, but the oscillators in the reservoir display a larger variability in states as the ESN’s prediction becomes worse. Analytical approaches to quantify how the Kuramoto ESN’s dynamics relate to its prediction are explored, as well as how the dynamics of the Kuramoto ESN relate to another widely studied physical model, the Ising model.

Producing And Measuring Oscillatory Shear In A Novel Microfluidic Chip, Sanaz Lordfard, Daniel Lorusso, Tamie L. Poepping, Hristo N Nikolov, Kayla Soon, Stephen Sims, Jeffrey Dixon, David Holdsworth

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel microfluidic device mimicking oscillatory blood flow, allowing cell biologists to examine how endothelial cells respond to a range of oscillatory shear stress levels.

Methods: The microfluidic chip consists of a circular-shaped reservoir, leading to a rectangular channel that is examined under a microscope. The plunger is connected to a speaker system and oscilloscope, allowing the plunger to apply a range of frequencies (5-60Hz) and voltages (5-10 V, leading to a variety in oscillation amplitudes) to the reservoir region. 1.1 um fluorescent particles diluted in distilled water were used for tracking. Processing was …

Financial Literacy: Self-Evaluation And Reality, Yangsijia Wang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This study is on the topic of financial literacy, with the data source containing information on clients' demographic information and self-evaluation, change in account value, and trade record, three major problems were investigated: first, whether a client's demographic traits are related to his/her self-evaluation of financial knowledge level; second, does the trading behaviour differ for clients who self-identified as in different financial knowledge groups; and third, do people who self-identified as financially knowledgeable have better investment result. Data manipulation was done using SQL and R. Exploratory analysis including multiple types of plots and proportion tables was used to derive the …

Polymer Translocation Through A Nanopore: Controlling Capture Conformations Using An Electrical Force, Matthew D. Wei

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Solid-state nanopore sensors remain a promising solution to the rising global demand for genome sequencing. These single-molecule sensing technologies require single-file translocation for high resolution and accurate detection. This study uses molecular dynamics-lattice Boltzmann simulations of the capture of a single polymer chain under pressure-driven hydrodynamic flow to investigate a method of increasing the single-file capture and translocation rate. By using a model force of two oppositely electrically charged rings, single-file capture in hydrodynamic flow can be amplified from about 45% to 51.5%. This paper found that the optimal values of force location, force strength, and system pressure/flow velocity are …

Contact Angle & Electrochemical Measurements Of Metallic Atmospheric Corrosion On Copper And Carbon Steel, Jacob J.M. Bunting, Jiju M. Joseph, Heng-Yong Nie, Samantha M. Gateman

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Understanding atmospheric corrosion has been incredibly challenging due to the complex interplay between surface microstructures, environmental variables, and electrochemical processes. The methodology presented is being developed to apply to atmospheric corrosion models of metals and other advanced materials by observing the change in contact angle in situ as a function of corrosion parameters. Performed contact angle measurements on two industrially relevant metals (copper and carbon steel) over a 1 min to 30-day time span to track the change in wettability due to the formation of an air-formed oxide layer (aged) as a function of surface roughness.

Simulating Salience: Developing A Model Of Choice In The Visual Coordination Game, Adib Sedig

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This project is primarily inspired by three papers: Colin Camerer and Xiaomin Li’s (2019 working paper)—Using Visual Salience in Empirical Game Theory, Ryan Oprea’s (2020)—What Makes a Rule Complex?, and Caplin et. al.’s (2011)—Search and Satisficing. Over the summer, I worked towards constructing a model of choice for the visual coordination game that can model player behavior more accurately than traditional game theoretic predictions. It attempts to do so by incorporating a degree of bias towards salience into a cellular automaton search algorithm and utilizing it alongside a sequential search mechanism of satisficing. This …

A Pressure And Stress Study Of Reidite, Gillian G. Noonan

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Zircon is a mineral that can commonly be found in many rocks in the Earth’s crust and other planetary bodies. Meteorite impact sites have also been shown to contain zircon and its high-pressure polymorph, Reidite.

Simple And Fast Fabrication Methodology For Platinum And Carbon Ultramicroelectrodes (Ume) In Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (Secm), Emma Mae Lord, Jiju Joseph, Samantha M. Gateman, Zhifeng Ding

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a highly versatile method for measuring and imaging a wide range of systems. When paired with an intricately made ultramicroelectrode (UME) probe, SECM becomes an even more powerful tool for imaging microscale features in a system. However, purchasing these UME’s comes at a high cost with less ability for modification. Having high quality UME’s expands the ability of SECM and enables precise measuring and imaging in a wide range of applications such as solar cells in Dr. Ding’s lab, and corroding metals in Dr. Gateman’s lab. To combat this issue of high cost and set …

Travelling Wave Solutions On A Cylindrical Geometry, Karnav R. Raval

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Fluid equations are generally quite difficult and computationally-expensive to solve. However, if one is primarily interested in how the surface of the fluid deforms, we can re-formulate the governing equations purely in terms of free surface variables. Reformulating equations in such a way drastically cuts down on computational cost, and may be useful in areas such as modelling blood flow. Here, we study one such free-boundary formulation on a cylindrical geometry.

Where Are The Habitable Planets In Our Local Group Of Galaxies?, William C. Windsor

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Updating The Outdated Apollo Mission Lunar Impactite Classifications, Marc Mechem

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

NASA's Apollo program had six manned missions that successfully landed on the Moon, in which all returned with lunar material. Included in this lunar material were lunar impactites, being described as lunar rocks that have been affected by one or more impact events. These samples were classified about 50 years ago and have not been updated since, despite our knowledge regarding both terrestrial and lunar impactites having grown. This study aims to suggest updated classifications for the 43 total Apollo mission lunar impactite samples the University of Western has currently in their possession. This study could help develop future lunar …

Investigating Classical Be Stars & Their Surrounding Disks, Shivam Gupta

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Identify physical conditions of B-emission stars at certain positions over specific wavelengths. Classify stars based on colors and Identify the spectral type of a star and temperature based on its absorption lines. Summarize the changes and excess in flux over certain wavelengths of multiple B-emission stars while also looking at the flux when filtered over the V, B, U and K bands. Identify properties of the Be stars and evaluate how changing certain properties effect the stars and their surrounding disks.

Exploring The Use Of Covellite As A Proxy For Corrosion Of Native Copper By Sulphur Reducing Bacteria, Manan K. Joshi

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

We are analyzing the effect of sulphate reducing bacteria on native copper, and using that evidence to further support the initiative of having a deep geological repository to store nuclear material. Sulphate reducing bacteria are a concern for the deep geological repository as they cause the corrosion of regular copper. However native copper has gone billions of years without corrosion, which could either mean that it had not been exposed to sulphate reducing bacteria over the billions of years, or native copper is able to withstand corrosion despite the contact of sulphate reducing bacteria. We can find out by trying …

Some Progress On Random Matrix Theory (Rmt), Feiying Yang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This is a research report about Random Matrix Theory (RMT), which studies Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOE), Gaussian Unitary Ensemble (GUE) and Gaussian Symplectic Ensemble (GSE), the purpose is to prove Wigner’s semicircle law.

Development Of A Low Field Mri-Based Approach For Observation Of Water Penetration Into Clay: Preliminary Results, Shivam Gupta

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are considered one of the most efficient and non-invasive methods of observing water content in permeable substances. MRI can visualize and quantify the movement of water in real time. In this study, MRI was used to observe the water penetration through clay. Furthermore, MRI can acquire three-dimensional data due to its radio-frequency signals from any orientation. The contrast of the images produced by MRI is a display of the fluid concentration. As such, any change in the contrast intensity is interpreted as a regional change in the concentration of fluid. This report summarizes the preliminary results …

Ciculant Matrix And Fft, Thomas S. Devries

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The goal was to produce all the eigen values for a BOHEMIAN matrices using coefficient set {0, 1, -1, i, -i} of a size 15 vector. There are 5^15 eigen values so it was attempted to be done in parrallel for parts of the algorithm that permitted.

The Impacts Of Mid-Holocene Warming On Water Quality In A Southwestern Ontario Kettle Pond, Morgan E. Peicheff

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Simulating 129-Xe Hyperpolarization, Jacob F. Abiad

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Hyperpolarized 129-Xe is an important resource in many fields of medical physics and MRI research. The physics of the efficient production of hyperpolarized 129-Xe is therefore equally worth investigation. The main process of hyperpolarizing 129-Xe is Spin Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP) and is dependent on several physical factors that can be difficult to constantly change in a lab setting. Physical modelling of 129-Xe hyperpolarization allows for the more efficient testing of hyperpolarization physics in a wide array of experimental setups to better determine the optimal values for hyperpolarization. This research project attempted to create a working model for 129-Xe hyperpolarization …

Automated Extraction Of Key Words And Abstract, Oluwadarasimi Temitope Ogunshote Mr.

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

An application/program that automates the extraction of key words and abstracts from documents.

Searching For New Relations Among The Eilenberg-Zilber Maps, Owen T. Abma

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The goal of this project was to write a computer program that would aid in the search for relations among the Eilenberg-Zilber maps, which relate to simplicial objects in algebraic topology. This presentation outlines the process of writing this program, the challenges faced along the way, and the final results of the project.

Using An Analytical Approach Of The Kuramoto Model To Stimulate 3d Neural Activity Of The Stomach, Morteza Al Rabya

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Tsunami Early Warning, Yao Li

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This study uses both the traditional attributes, which are earthquake magnitude and location and pluses the tsunami height collected by detecting stations to estimate the height of a tsunami on the coast. The resulting accuracy indicates the tsunami height data collected by the off-shore stations could be used to estimate reliable and robust tsunami source models for tsunami warning purposes.

The Application Of Machine Learning To Help Identify Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 In Shales, Marc Mechem

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Contemporary Mathematical Approaches To Computability Theory, Luis Guilherme Mazzali De Almeida

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In this paper, I present an introduction to computability theory and adopt contemporary mathematical definitions of computable numbers and computable functions to prove important theorems in computability theory. I start by exploring the history of computability theory, as well as Turing Machines, undecidability, partial recursive functions, computable numbers, and computable real functions. I then prove important theorems in computability theory, such that the computable numbers form a field and that the computable real functions are continuous.

Categorical Aspects Of Graphs, Jacob D. Ender

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In this article, we introduce a categorical characterization of directed and undirected graphs, and explore subcategories of reflexive and simple graphs. We show that there are a number of adjunctions between such subcategories, exploring varying combinations of graph types.

Spectral Graph Theory And Research, Nathan H. Kershaw, Lewis Glabush

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Our topic of study was Spectral Graph Theory. We studied the algebraic methods used to study the properties of graphs (networks) and became familiar with the applications of network analysis. We spent a significant amount of time studying the way virus’s spread on networks, with particular applications to Covid-19. We also investigated the relationship between graph spectra and structural properties.

A Transformer-Based Classification System For Volcanic Seismic Signals, Cristian Bravo Roman, Cindy Mora Stock, Alexander James Hemming

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Volcanic seismic signals are a key element in volcano monitoring to assess the state of unrest and a possible eruption style and timing. Different sources such as brittle fracture (volcano-tectonic - VT) or fluid movement (long period - LP) generate signals with distinct characteristics in frequency content and shape, but site effects such as attenuation or background noise make their determination difficult to the untrained eye. In cases of unrest or an eminent eruption, the amount of data would require a fast and reliable source of pre-classification to classify and catalogue to aid in the job usually done by a …

Monitoring At-Home Care Patients Through A Scalar Polar Plot Visualization Of Motion Sensor Data, Michael Mcgavin

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In Canada, approximately 18 percent (6.6 million) of the total population are age 65 or older, and 88 percent of people over age 65 want to stay in their residence for as long as possible. This older demographic is a group that is dependent on proactive and preventative healthcare. Using motion sensor data collected from a local company providing home-care services to this demographic, a data visualization was constructed to assist users in observing patient behavior and improving their quality of life while maintaining their independence. However, since the collected data is time-based, it results in a dataset that is …