Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Mathematical Modeling For Dental Decay Prevention In Children And Adolescents, Mahdiyeh Soltaninejad

Dissertations

The high prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, is a significant nationwide health concern. Early prevention, such as dental sealants and fluoride varnish (FV), is essential, but access to this care remains limited and disparate. In this research, a national dataset is utilized to assess sealants' reach and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, particularly focusing on 2nd molars that emerge during early adolescence, a current gap in the knowledge base. FV is recommended to be delivered during medical well-child visits to children who are not seeing a dentist. Challenges and facilitators in …

Molybdenum Alkylidyne Complexes With Phenoxide Ligands For Alkyne Metathesis, Marvin L. Stewart Jr

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Alkyne metathesis is a powerful synthetic tool, which provides easy access to complex organic molecules in a single-step. It is a dynamic covalent reaction that scrambles alkynes, carbon-carbon triple bonds (C≡C). Molybdenum- or tungsten-alkylidyne (Mo≡C, W≡C) complexes are typically used as catalyst to cleave and reform alkyne bonds. Our goal has been to gain a deeper understanding of the intrinsic differences between functional ligands by the development of novel phenoxide ligands.

In chapter 2 we explore the detailed synthesis of novel phenoxide podand ligands in an effort to identify their mo-alkylidyne complexes. We were able to synthesize a variety …

Head Tail Open: Open Tailed Classification Of Imbalanced Document Data, Chetan Joshi

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning models for scanned document image classification and form understand- ing have made significant progress in the last few years. High accuracy can be achieved by a model with the help of copious amounts of labelled training data for closed-world classification. However, very little work has been done in the domain of fine-grained and head-tailed(class imbalance with some classes having high numbers of data points and some having a low number of data points) open-world classification for documents. Our proposed method achieves a better classification results than the baseline of the head-tail-novel/open dataset. Our techniques include separating the head-tail …

Evaluating Appropriate Participant Training Period For Anuran Auditory Surveys, Evianna Goebel

Honors Projects

Auditory surveys are common in anuran research as they can tell a lot about a species without being intensely laborious or costly. There has not been much research on training periods for those taking part in the surveys. Proper training is necessary and improper training can hinder a project and lead to skewed results. In this study, we took students from several biology 2040 classes and had them study the calls of 11 frog species in NW Ohio. From the data, we can conclude that 2 weeks of roughly 100 minutes of study time is not enough for successful results …

Unique K3 Surfaces With Purely Non-Symplectic Automorphism: Insights From Weighted Projective Spaceunique K3 Surfaces With Purely Non-Symplectic Automorphism:\\Insights From Weighted Projective Space, Elizabeth Melville

Theses and Dissertations

K3 surfaces have garnered attention across various fields, from optics and dynamics to high energy physics, making them a subject of extensive study for many decades. Recent work by mathematicians, including Brandhorst [1], has focused on non-symplectic automorphisms, aiming to categorize K3 surfaces that admit such automorphisms. Brandhorst made a list of unique K3 surfaces with purely non-symplectic automorphisms and established specific criteria for a K3 surface to be isomorphic to one on his list. This thesis aims to provide an alternative representation of select K3 surfaces from Brandhorst's list. While Brandhorst predominantly characterizes these surfaces as elliptic K3 surfaces, …

Geometries Gon Wild, Naat Ambrosino

Undergraduate Theses

A circle is mathematically defined as the collection of points a given distance away from a set point. Thus, the appearance of a circle varies dramatically across different metrics—for example, the taxicab metric (as popularized by Krause and Reynolds) has a circle that is a Euclidean square. As such, metrics can be partially defined by the appearance of their unit circles. This paper focuses on creating and analyzing an infinite set of metrics defined by their circles being regular polygons. Additionally, it provides a method of exactly generating a regular n-gon given a center, included point, and specified orientation.

The Lowest Discriminant Ideal Of Cayley-Hamilton Hopf Algebras, Zhongkai Mi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Discriminant ideals are defined for an algebra R with central subalgebra C and trace tr : R → C. They are indexed by positive integers and more general than discriminants. Usually R is required to be a finite module over C. Unlike the abundace of work on discriminants, there is hardly any literature on discriminant ideals. The levels of discriminant ideals relate to the sums of squares of dimensions of irreducible modules over maximal ideals of C containing these discriminant ideals. We study the lowest level when R is a Cayley-Hamilton Hopf algebra, i.e. C is also a Hopf subalgebra, …

Black Tio2 Nts And Zno-Tio2 Nts Heterostructure: Synthesis, Characterization, And Synchrotron-Based Spectroscopy Studies, Lu Yao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The one-dimensional (1D) TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs), and their derivatives have been extensively studied due to their potential use in water-splitting, solar cells, and lithium-ion batteries. Since TiO₂ has a large band gap (~3.2 eV for anatase), there has been a search for higher photocatalytic efficiency by shifting the band gap into the visible range. This thesis presents a study of black TiO₂ NTs and ZnO-TiO₂ heterostructures using synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. It involves the transformation from as-prepared TiO₂ NTs to black TiO₂ NTs via an electrochemical reduction method. ZnO-TiO₂ NT …

Multifunctional And Moisture Tolerant Zinc-Based Mono- And Bi-Metallic Metal-Organic Framework (Mof) Thin Films, Emmanuel Agbata

Theses and Dissertations

Many applications of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly dependent on their structures. The type and consistency of structure inform their properties. Zinc-based MOFs are applicable in different fields because of the low toxicity of zinc materials and are therefore also useful for catalysis. While MOF-5, a zinc-based MOF with carboxylate linkers is moisture intolerant, a variant of this is moisture tolerant. The introduction of a nitrogen-based linker in the zinc MOF which renders the structure moisture-tolerant. This material has not been explored as much, despite its multifunctional properties. Furthermore, the growth of Zn-based bimetallics of this MOF has not yet …

The Generation Of Terahertz Light And Its Applications In The Study Of Vibrational Motion, Aldair Alejandro

Theses and Dissertations

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a powerful tool that uses ultrashort pulses of light to study the properties of materials on picosecond time scales. THz light can be generated through a variety of methods. In our lab, we generate THz through the process of optical rectification in nonlinear optical (NLO) organic crystals. THz light can be used to study several phenomena in materials, such as spin precession, electron acceleration, vibrational and rotational motion. The work presented in this dissertation is divided into two parts: (1) the generation of THz light and (2) applications of THz light. The first portion of this …

Comprehensive Question And Answer Generation With Llama 2, Matous Hybl

MS in Computer Science Theses

Since the introduction of transformers, large language models have proven capable in many natural language processing fields. However, existing systems still face challenges in generating high-quality extractive questions. Base models and public chatbots fall short if the question source or quantity are critical. Our contribution is a question and answer generator for generating comprehensive, extractive questions and answers. This approach includes fine-tuning a LLaMA 2 base model for answer extraction (AE) and question generation (QG). We evaluate the resulting system using common automated metrics and a manual evaluation. We find that our system is comparable to the latest research and …

The Black-To-White Hole Transition, Farshid Soltani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Classically, an isolated black hole is a stable gravitational object. If however semiclassical effects are taken into account, an isolated black hole can be shown to slowly radiate its mass away in a process called evaporation. At the end of the evaporation process, when the size of the horizon becomes Planckian, the quantum nature of the gravitational field can no longer be neglected and the dynamics of the horizon is governed by quantum gravity. The main objective of this thesis is the systematic investigation of a tentative scenario for the “end of the life” of a black hole: the black-to-white …

The Mathematical And Historical Significance Of The Four Color Theorem, Brock Bivens

Honors Theses

Researching how the Four Color Theorem was proved, its implications on the mathematical community, and interviews with working mathematicians to develop my own personal opinions on the significance of the Four Color Theorem.

Feed More, Waste Less, Kaitlyn Dietz

Honors Projects

With college prices and the cost of food increasing, so has the rate of food insecurity among college students. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of availability or access to food to meet someone’s basic and necessary needs. Food insecurity is associated with lower grades, depression, higher perceived stress, and lower graduation rates. Campuses across the country are responding to the problem in a variety of ways, including distribution of food directly to students through food pantries. Meal plans are expensive in the addition to college tuition and housing. The lowest cost for a meal plan at Bowling Green …

Luminescence And Structural Properties Of Silicon-Germanium Quantum Structures Fabricated By Ion Implantation, Matheus Coelho Adam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The advancement of semiconductor materials has played a crucial role in driving positive technological breakthroughs that impact humanity in numerous ways. The presence of defects significantly alters the physical properties of semiconductors, making their analysis essential in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. I presented a new method to quantify surface and near-surface defects in single crystal semiconductors. Epitaxially-grown silicon was measured by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) to obtain the surface Debye temperature (θ_D). The results showed the surface θ_D of bulk Si (001), 1.0 μm, and 0.6 μm Si on sapphire of 333 K, 299 K, …

Post-Modeling Adjustments And Delivered Dose Verification Of The 6fff Beam Model Commissioned For The Monaco Treatment Planning System, Grant C. Debevec

LSU Master's Theses

External beam radiation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment method for tumors and abnormalities of the spine and vertebral region. Treating the spine using a stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) technique can reduce toxicity to the spinal cord. The 6 MV flattening filter free (6FFF) beam model is currently used to plan and calculate dose for SBRT treatment plans, and the treatment plans are delivered using a linear accelerator (LINAC).

The commissioned beam model represents an invariant component of a LINAC. For volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans, the multileaf collimator (MLC) positions are changing throughout …

All-Optical Probes Of Particle-Like Charge Migration Dynamics, Kyle A. Hamer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Particle-like charge migration (CM) is the coherent, back-and-forth motion of a positively-charged electron hole along the backbone of a molecule following a sudden ionization. CM in small molecules generally occurs on an Angstrom (10^-10 m) spatial scale and an attosecond (10^-18 s) timescale. I use time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) to simulate CM modes in organic molecules, and to explore all-optical probes of this attosecond electron dynamics using high-harmonic spectroscopy (HHS). By leveraging my results from previous studies of two-center interferences in carbon dichalcogens, in which I separated the harmonic signal into contributions from individual Kohn-Sham orbitals, I first …

Finite Monodromy And Artin Representations, Emma Lien

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Artin representations, which are complex representations of finite Galois groups, appear in many contexts in number theory. The Langlands program predicts that Galois representations like these should arise from automorphic representations and many examples of this correspondence have been found such as in the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. This dissertation aims to make an analysis of explicitly computable examples of Artin representations from both sides of this correspondence. On the automorphic side, certain weight 1 modular forms have been shown to be related to Artin representations and an explicit analysis of their Fourier coefficients allows us to identify the …

Reducibility Of Schrödinger Operators On Multilayer Graphs, Jorge Villalobos Alvarado

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A local defect in an atomic structure can engender embedded eigenvalues when the associated Schrödinger operator is either block reducible or Fermi reducible, and having multilayer structures appears to be typically necessary for obtaining such types of reducibility. Discrete and quantum graph models are commonly used in this context as they often capture the relevant features of the physical system in consideration.

This dissertation lays out the framework for studying different types of multilayer discrete and quantum graphs that enjoy block or Fermi reducibility. Schrödinger operators with both electric and magnetic potentials are considered. We go on to construct a …

Estimating Crustal Thickness In Northwest Louisiana Using The Receiver Function Method, Delton Samuel

LSU Master's Theses

I aim to constrain the crustal thickness of the Sabine Block in the Sabine Uplift region of northwest Louisiana, using the frequency domain receiver function deconvolution technique followed by H-κ stacking. The passive margin on the southern edge of the North American continent experienced an active tectonic history, including the spreading events that led to the formation of the Gulf of Mexico. A previous study proposed the Sabine Block is a residual fragment of Proterozoic orogenic origin; however, its full extent and geometry are up for debate. It is now overlain by thick sedimentary sequences ranging from ~4-6 km deposited …

Exploration Of Characteristic Curve In Fox Float 3 Shock Dampers To Expedite Shock Damp Tuning., Joshua R. Moore

Honors College Theses

The shock absorber is an integral part of a vehicle suspension system and has a strong influence on its performance, especially in the case of motorsports. It is important to study the force versus velocity relationship, commonly known as the characteristic curve of the shock absorber both during compression and rebound. Vendor-supplied characteristics often reflect the behavior of the shock absorber in a particular setting. However, during the installation, the settings inside the shock absorber are adjusted to increase the human comfort level and performance of the vehicle. This may change the characteristic curve of the shock. The available data …

The Modular Generalized Springer Correspondence For The Symplectic Group, Joseph Dorta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Modular Generalized Springer Correspondence (MGSC), as developed by Achar, Juteau, Henderson, and Riche, stands as a significant extension of the early groundwork laid by Lusztig's Springer Correspondence in characteristic zero which provided crucial insights into the representation theory of finite groups of Lie type. Building upon Lusztig's work, a generalized version of the Springer Correspondence was later formulated to encompass broader contexts.

In the realm of modular representation theory, Juteau's efforts gave rise to the Modular Springer Correspondence, offering a framework to explore the interplay between algebraic geometry and representation theory in positive characteristic. Achar, Juteau, Henderson, and Riche …

Subroups Of Coxeter Groups And Stallings Foldings, Jake A. Murphy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

For each finitely generated subgroup of a Coxeter group, we define a cell complex called a completion. We show that these completions characterizes the index and normality of the subgroup. We construct a completion corresponding to the intersection of two subgroups and use this construction to characterize malnormality of subgroups of right-angled Coxeter groups. Finally, we show that if a completion of a subgroup is finite, then the subgroup is quasiconvex. Using this, we show that certain reflection subgroups of a Coxeter are quasiconvex.

Analytic Wavefront Sets Of Spherical Distributions On The De Sitter Space, Iswarya Sitiraju

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this work, we determine the wavefront set of certain eigendistributions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on the de Sitter space. Let G′ = O_1,n(R) be the Lorentz group, and let H′ = O_1,n−1(R) ⊂ G′ be its subset. The de Sitter space dSⁿ is a one-sheeted hyperboloid in R^1,n isomorphic to G′/H′. A spherical distribution is an H′-invariant eigendistribution of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on dSⁿ. The space of spherical distributions with eigenvalue λ, denoted by D_λ^H'(dSⁿ), has dimension 2. We construct a basis for the space of …

Navigating Murky Waters: State-Level Strategies For Wetland Preservation And Tile Drainage Regulation After Sackett V. Epa, Caleb M. Swanson

Honors Thesis

Wetlands are some of the world’s most valuable ecosystems, serving as provisioners of species habitat, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, water quality purification, and other ecosystem services. Human development has resulted in substantial wetland loss the world over. In the 1970s, the United States Congress passed the Clean Water Act, giving the EPA broad authority over wetland protection. However, in the summer of 2023, the United States Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA, limiting the EPA’s jurisdiction over wetlands to those indistinguishably connected to generally recognized “Waters of the United States” and removing federal protection for millions of acres of wetlands, …

Applying Mathematical Modeling To The Study Of Family Systems, Dahlia Maxwell

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematical modeling provides a powerful framework for insight into current scientific theories as well as hypothesis generation for further research. Despite its undeniable potential to enrich scientific advancement, the application of mathematical modeling remains conspicuously scarce in the field of family science. The complexity inherent in family dynamics, coupled with the intricate interplay of emotions in the individual, underscores the necessity of a robust analytical approach. Addressing this critical gap in the literature, this thesis introduces a sophisticated mathematical model of family dynamics integrating essential elements from family systems theory, emotion dynamics, and appraisal theory. The model is implemented as …

Advancing Single-Cell Proteomics Through Innovations In Liquid Chromatography And Mass Spectrometry, Kei Grant Isaac Webber

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional proteomics studies can measure many protein biomarkers simultaneously from a single patient-derived sample, promising the possibility of syndromic diagnoses of multiple diseases sharing common symptoms. However, precious cellular-level information is lost in conventional bulk-scale studies that measure tissues comprising many types of cells. As single cells are the building blocks of organisms and are easier to biopsy than traditional bulk samples, performing proteomics on a single-cell level would benefit clinicians and patients. Single-cell proteomics, combined with mass spectrometry imaging, can be used to analyze cells in their microenvironment, preserving spatial information. We have previously used laser-capture microdissection to isolate …

Factors Predicting Public’S Willingness To Support National Aeronautics And Space Administration’S Artemis Mission, Sean Crouse

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

NASA's Artemis program aspires to return astronauts to the moon and aims to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. The endeavor symbolizes the next evolution in space exploration and serves as a testament to the human spirit of discovery. In the face of this significant undertaking, gauging public sentiment and understanding the factors driving public support becomes necessary. The current study aimed to address a critical gap in the literature by examining public support for NASA’s Artemis mission, which is essential for sustaining the program’s momentum and cultivating a culture of innovation and exploration. …

Study Of Deep Learning Models To Classify Nasa’S Kepler Light Curves, Heena Minnich

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The search for exoplanets has been an ongoing effort since the first discoveries of planets beyond our solar system in the 1990s. Finding a potentially habitable planet outside our solar system could provide key insights on life elsewhere in the universe. NASA Missions such as the Kepler, launched in 2009 and completed in 2018, have provided a massive amount of data in this goal by using the transit method to discover repetitive and periodic dips in visible light around a star. The transit method has been used to measure flux, the brightness of a star over time. These flux time …

Longitudinal Solid Polarized Target For Clas12 And Study Of Spin Structure Of Nucleons, Pushpa Pandey

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A suite of experiments measuring target-spin observables in electron-nucleon scattering (dubbed Run Group C) was conducted at Jefferson Lab’s Hall B in Newport News, VA with a new polarized nuclear target known as ‘APOLLO’ (Ammonia Polarized Longitudinally). This innovative target is engineered to seamlessly integrate with the advanced 12 GeV CEBAF (Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility) accelerator and the Hall B CLAS12 (12 GeV CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer) detector array. The ‘APOLLO’ target harnesses the power of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) to achieve longitudinal polarization of solid ammonia, thereby creating a net polarization in both protons (NH₃) and …