Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Charged Excitons And Trions In The Semiconductor Quantum Dot: Electronic Structure And Effect Of External Fields, Jayden Leonard

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In this thesis, we are studying the electronic structures and optical properties of charged excitons and trions (i.e., the exciton-associated quasi-particles in semiconductor materials) in quantum dots which have a three-dimensional confinement configuration. We also consider the effects of an external electric and magnetic field on the charged excitons. Initially theorized in 1958, charged excitons are a fairly new phenomenon in physics in which an exciton (i.e., an electron coupled with an electron hole) is coupled with either another electron or another hole (giving either a ‘negative exciton’ or ‘positive exciton’ accordingly). In the completely confined configuration like the quantum …

The Deep Bsde Method, Daniel Kovach

Masters Theses

"The curse of dimensionality is the non-linear growth in computing time as the dimension of a problem increases. Using the Deep Backwards Stochastic Differential Equation (Deep BSDE) method developed in [HJE18], I approximate the solution at an initial time to a one-dimensional diffusion equation. Although we only approximate a one-dimensional equation, this method extends well to higher dimensions because it overcomes the curse of dimensionality by evaluating the given partial differential equation along "random characteristics''. In addition to the implementation, I also present most of the mathematical theory needed to understand this method"-- Abstract, p. iii

Amination Of 2-Bromo-6-Methylaminopyridine, Matthew H. Elterman

Honors College Theses

Extended metal atom chains (EMACs) represent molecular structures comprising a linear arrangement of metal ions, accompanied by supporting ligands. These compounds possess intriguing properties, yet remain understudied, drawing interest from diverse fields such as physics. However, synthesizing these multimetallic complexes poses significant challenges due to their intricate nature and specificity. Bridging ligands like silyl aminopyridine (SAP) and dipyridyl amine (DAP) have been utilized successfully to support EMACs, with SAP's application in this context being limited to a single published case, highlighting the urgent need for stabilization. This project aims to address this challenge through the synthesis of a novel scaffolded …

Backgrounds Study And Ai-Powered Waveform Processing For Legend Experiment, Laxman Paudel

Dissertations and Theses

Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay (0$\nu \beta \beta $) is a presumed rare nuclear decay process and is considered the most promising way to prove the Majorana nature of neutrinos, that is, neutrinos are their own antiparticles. The discovery of \zero decay would also enhance our understanding of nuclear physics, astrophysical observations, and physical processes in the early Universe. The Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay (LEGEND) is a phased $^{\mathrm{76}}$Ge-based 0$\nu \beta \beta $ decay experimental program, aiming for the discovery potential of a half-life of 0$\nu \beta \beta $ beyond 10$^{\mathrm{28}}$ years. The first phase, LEGEND-200, comprises 200 …

The Effects Of Seaweed Farming On Local Ecosystems In The United States, Reid Cohen

Pitzer Senior Theses

In my thesis, I explore how seaweed farming contributes to the regeneration of marine ecosystems, supports biodiversity, and assists in harmful nutrient removal. Seaweed farming is a relatively unexplored industry in the United States with huge carbon capturing potential. Seaweed farming poses a significant opportunity for a project that has the potential to sequester carbon, increase biodiversity, protect coastal ecosystems, naturally clean water, provide biofuel capabilities, substitute as livestock fodder which then decreases methane emissions, along with many more benefits. Kelp supports biodiversity in marine ecosystems and provides essential habitats for various species. The seaweed farming industry holds profound potential …

A Road Map For Place Based Collaboration For Conflict Reduction, Joseph L. Zecher

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Creation Of A Digital Storage System For Genome Sequencing Metadata, Jacquelin W. Olexa

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

As the field of computational genomics continues to expand in both potential and application, it is now more imperative than ever to ensure that massive genetic sequencing datasets are properly stored in an accessible manner. This project sought to establish a practical, user-friendly, secure system for a genomics research lab (the Good Lab; thegoodlab.org) at the University of Montana. A MySQL database and connected web application was ruled the best configuration to maximize utility and accessibility for the lab’s researchers. Building the logical framework for the database, creating the server, and sourcing data occurred over several months. The dataset ranged …

Photoinduced Alpha-Hydroxy C–H Alkylation Of Mono-Alcohols Via Hydrogen Atom Transfer (Hat) Of An Activated Boron-Containing Complex, Courtney Deanna Glenn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Hydroxy (-OH) groups are one of the most abundant functional groups found in natural products and pharmaceuticals with many of these compounds containing multiple alcohol classes. The ability to selectively functionalize a specific α-OH C–H bond in the presence of other competitive sites would provide straightforward access to new, potentially bioactive compounds. In recent literature, photoredox catalysis has been implemented to perform site and stereoselective α-OH C–H functionalization of cis-diol containing substrates. Incorporating an organoboron cocatalyst into these systems have proven to be crucial in decreasing the bond dissociation energy (BDE) and increasing hydricity of the α-OH C–H bond …

Imputation Strategies For Different Categories Of Missing Data, Karthik Chalumuri

Honors Theses and Capstones

Addressing missing data in research is crucial for ensuring the reliability and validity of study findings, yet it remains a significant challenge. This study investigates the impact of missing data on research outcomes and explores the underutilization of existing tools for managing missingness, potentially leading to gaps in critical information with tangible implications for decision-making processes (Dziura et al.).

Focusing on the different categories of missing data—Missing Completely At Random (MCAR), Missing At Random (MAR), and Missing Not At Random (MNAR)—this research examines various imputation strategies tailored to each category. Specifically, we compare the efficacy of several model-based imputation methods, …

Defensive Impact Wins: Developing A New Method To Rate Individual Defense In Nba Games, Dylan J. Stiles

Honors Theses and Capstones

With the analytics revolution in sports in the past 20 years, it seems that everything that can be quantified is. In basketball though, trying to break the game down into a set of numbers comes with a unique problem. While we've come up with a good set of advanced numbers to measure offensive efficiency, defense is fundamentally harder to quantify. The game is played five on five, but it has often been popular or convenient to model defense as a set of five one on one games. As defenses became more complex into the 2010s, this methodology became more insignificant. …

Adaptive Multi-Label Classification On Drifting Data Streams, Martha Roseberry

Theses and Dissertations

Drifting data streams and multi-label data are both challenging problems. When multi-label data arrives as a stream, the challenges of both problems must be addressed along with additional challenges unique to the combined problem. Algorithms must be fast and flexible, able to match both the speed and evolving nature of the stream. We propose four methods for learning from multi-label drifting data streams. First, a multi-label k Nearest Neighbors with Self Adjusting Memory (ML-SAM-kNN) exploits short- and long-term memories to predict the current and evolving states of the data stream. Second, a punitive k nearest neighbors algorithm with a self-adjusting …

Penalized Interpolating B-Splines And Their Applications, Kylee L. Hartman-Caballero

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most studied data analysis techniques in Numerical Analysis is interpolation. Interpolation is used in a variety of fields, namely computer graphic design and biomedical research. Among interpolation techniques, cubic splines have been viewed as the standard since at least the 1960s, due to their ease of computation, numerical stability, and the relative smoothness of the interpolating curve. However, cubic splines have notable drawbacks, such as their lack of local control and necessary knowledge of boundary conditions. Arguably a more versatile interpolation technique is the use of B-splines. B-splines, a relative of Bézier curves, allow local control through …

Measuring The Properties Of Rod-Shaped Bacteria By Single-Entity Electrochemistry, Ashley Tubbs

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant and escalating threat to hospitals around the world, necessitating the development of rapid and sensitive detection methods. Single-entity electrochemistry has emerged as a promising approach for detecting and identifying such bacteria, and monitoring the efficacy of antibiotics in real-time. Herein, we employ the translational diffusion equation for circular cylinders to predict the collision frequency of rod-shaped bacteria, informing our experimental setup. Our work demonstrates that lab-fabricated Pt ultramicroelectrodes can sensitively detect bacteria at femtomolar concentrations under migration-controlled conditions. Further, we present a method implemented in MatLab to automate the analysis of step-like signals observed in …

Photoluminescence Of Beryllium-Related Defects In Gallium Nitride, Mykhailo Vorobiov, Mykhailo Vorobiov

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the potential of beryllium (Be) as an alternative dopant to magnesium (Mg) for achieving higher hole concentrations in gallium nitride (GaN). Despite Mg prominence as an acceptor in optoelectronic and high-power devices, its deep acceptor level at 0.22 eV above the valence band limits its effectiveness. By examining Be, this research aims to pave the way to overcoming these limitations and extend the findings to aluminum nitride and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) alloy. Key contributions of this work include. i)Identification of three Be-related luminescence bands in GaN through photoluminescence spectroscopy, improving the understanding needed for further material …

Solutions To The Kaluza-Klein Field Equations, Abel Eshete

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This Alternate Paper Plan explores Kaluza-Klein theory, a multidimensional framework designed to unify Einstein’s gravitational field theory and Maxwell’s electromagnetic field theory. The objectives of this research can be summarized in two key areas: The first objective is to present a comprehensive introduction to the compactified Kaluza-Klein theory. The second aim involves the application of differential geometry, specifically E ́lie Cartan’s tetrad formalism, to derive exact solutions in two distinct scenarios: a. A Levi-Civita spacetime, b. A general spherical system. Furthermore, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism are utilized to define stability conditions and describe gravitational lensing and Precession of Perihelion within …

Escape The Planet: Revolutionizing Game Design With Novel Oop Techniques, Qusai Kamal Fannoun

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Mobile devices are continuously evolving and greater computing power and graphics capabilities are being introduced every year. As a result, there is an increasing demand for challenging and engaging mobile games that leverage these advanced features. This project explores best design practices using the development of Escape the Planet, which is an intricate maze game for mobile devices in which players navigate using a spaceship that is trapped in a hostile planet’s maze while avoiding obstacles and enemy attacks. The goal is to safely guide the spaceship out of the maze without colliding into walls or taking bullets from defensive …

Tropical Fish Study In Tahiti, French Polynesia, Miranda Brainard, Caitlyn Swango, Paityn Houglan, Richard Londraville

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In May of 2023, I embarked on an exciting research journey to Moorea, French Polynesia, alongside fellow students and faculty members from the University of Akron and Syracuse University. This expedition was part of the university-sponsored Tropical Vertebrate Biology course, where we delved into the exploration of various tropical species inhabiting the island, including sea urchins, geckos, and my primary focus, the blackspotted rockskipper.

My research team, composed of my co-authors and me, was particularly intrigued by the unique refuge-seeking behavior displayed by blackspotted rockskippers. These amphibious fish are renowned for their remarkable ability to inhabit tide pools and rocky …

Hysplit In Simulating The Atmospheric Dispersion Of Hazardous Aerosols: A Case Study In St. Louis, Missouri, Ahmet Tolga Odabasi

Masters Theses

"Atmospheric dispersion and transmission play an important role in the behavior and effects of air pollution. Human health can be adversely affected by air pollution in a variety of ways, both immediately and over time. The Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT) modeling program, a computer model and software package, tracks the transport trajectories and distributions of air pollution and various pollutants, including radioactive pollutants, in the atmosphere. It also facilitates research on pollution sources. This study simulated the transport of hazardous aerosols in St. Louis region for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 using the HYSPLIT modeling …

A New Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Method With Second Difference Quotients For The Wave Equation, Andrew Calvin Janes

Masters Theses

"Recently, researchers have investigated the relationship between proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), difference quotients (DQs), and pointwise in time error bounds for POD reduced order models of partial differential equations. In \cite {Sarahs}, a new approach to POD with DQs was developed that is more computationally efficient than the standard DQ POD approach and it also retains the guaranteed pointwise in time error bounds of the standard method. In this thesis, we extend the new DQ POD approach from \cite {Sarahs} to the case of second difference quotients (DDQs). Specifically, a new POD method utilizing DDQs and only one snapshot and …

Re-Evaluating Missouri’S Strategic Element Potential: A Geochemical Study Of The Mesoproterozoic Fe-Cu-Co-Ree Deposits In Southeast Missouri, Usa, Brandon James Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are poorly understood mineral systems. For example, we do not know why Cu- and Co-rich IOCG deposits typically occur proximal to Fe ore deposits that are notably Cu and Co-poor, such as Iron Oxide Apatite (IOA) deposits. To better understand the formation of IOA and IOCG deposits in Missouri, USA, this PhD thesis examines the genesis of the Kratz Spring IOA and the Boss Central Dome IOCG deposits. This study presents the first constraints on formation conditions and fluid sources in the studied deposits using integrated petrographic, mineral composition, and Fe isotope analyses of oxide minerals. Observations …

The Science Of Gravitational-Wave Sources And Beyond Compact Binary Coalescences, Yanyan Zheng

Doctoral Dissertations

"This work focuses on the field of gravitational-wave astronomy by extending the scope of detectable sources beyond compact binary coalescences, All the gravitational-wave detections so far come from compact binary coalescences. Focusing on core-collapse supernovae as promising sources for short gravitational-wave transients, this work reports optically targeted searches for gravitational-wave emitted by core-collapse supernovae during the third observing run of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. It also predicts the search sensitivity for the ongoing fourth and forthcoming fifth observing runs. Moreover, the work introduces a novel computational framework for testing the spatial distribution of binary black hole sources, allowing for …

Experimental Investigation Of High-Temperature Brine-Shale Interactions, Anna Atasha Hoffmann

Doctoral Dissertations

"Hydrofracturing (fracking), a common practice in the Petroleum Industry to induce or improve fluid flow in tight formations, creates chemical disequilibrium that further alters the porosity and permeability of host rocks and results in the production of saline and contaminated produced waters (PW). The PW of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) are Na-Ca-Mg-K-Cl brines with mean concentrations of approximately 16% Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and circumneutral pH. Analysis of composition suggests the PW result from a 20 to 80% dilution of formation waters (relict brines of the Louann Salt) by fracking fluid. Trace element concentrations generally show moderate to strong …

Assessing Organizational Investments In Cybersecurity And Financial Performance Before And After Data Breach Incidents Of Cloud Saas Platforms, Munther B. Ghazawneh

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Prior research indicated that providing inappropriate investment in organizations for Information Technology (IT) security makes these organizations suffer from IT security issues that may cause data breach incidents. Data breaches in cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms lead to the disclosure of sensitive information, which causes disruption of services, damage to the organizational image, or financial losses. Massive data breaches still exist in cloud SaaS platforms which result in data leaks and data theft of customers in organizations.

IT security risks and vulnerabilities cost organizations millions of dollars a year as organizations may face an increase in cybersecurity challenges. …

An Experiment To Determine Mineral-Associated Organic Matter Turnover In A Sandy Clay Loam, Samantha Abel

All Master's Theses

Soil is an important terrestrial carbon sink. Through regenerative land management, which includes minimizing soil disturbance, the carbon content of soil can be raised towards preindustrial levels. This feat requires effectively storing carbon in a natural system that is inclined to cyclicity. The most stable form of soil organic matter is mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). This carbon labelling experiment was designed to identify short-term CO₂ fluxes within the soil-plant-atmosphere system, particularly those related to MAOM turnover in the rhizosphere. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was planted on a plot at the campus farm at Central Washington University. Another plot …

Factors Associated With Acoustic Bat Presence During Spring Emergence In The Appalachian Mountains Of Western Virginia, Emily Kirk Pody

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Studies of threats that bats face during hibernation have increased in response to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has ravaged North American bat populations. However, impacts of WNS on bat ecology during spring emergence, when bats are potentially recovering from infection and allocating resources for reproduction, is relatively understudied. As more bat species become listed at the federal and state level, the need to understand the factors associated with spring emergence is critical for improving conservation guidelines and habitat management practices. Acoustic monitoring is an efficient method for monitoring bat presence for prolonged periods of time, giving biologists …

The Measure Of Efficiency And Effectiveness When Using Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Radiology, Jordan Watts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The use of artificial intelligence in radiology has helped radiologists identify patterns and abnormalities in medical images to diagnose and treat patients. Deep learning and machine learning algorithms have been used to assist physicians in detecting features that are not noticeable to the human eye. The FDA has approved almost 400 AI algorithms for radiology and estimated that the market for AI in medical imaging would grow from $21.48 billion in 2018 to $264.85 billion in 2028.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence in radiology to determine its …

Time Series Anomaly Detection Using Generative Adversarial Networks, Shyam Sundar Saravanan

Masters Theses

"Anomaly detection is widely used in network intrusion detection, autonomous driving, medical diagnosis, credit card frauds, etc. However, several key challenges remain open, such as lack of ground truth labels, presence of complex temporal patterns, and generalizing over different datasets. In this work, we propose TSI-GAN, an unsupervised anomaly detection model for time-series that can learn complex temporal patterns automatically and generalize well, i.e., no need for choosing dataset-specific parameters, making statistical assumptions about underlying data, or changing model architectures. To achieve these goals, we convert each input time-series into a sequence of 2D images using two encoding techniques with …

Graph Coloring Reconfiguration, Reem Mahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

Reconfiguration is the concept of moving between different solutions to a problem by transforming one solution into another using some prescribed transformation rule (move). Given two solutions s₁ and s₂ of a problem, reconfiguration asks whether there exists a sequence of moves which transforms s₁ into s₂. Reconfiguration is an area of research with many contributions towards various fields such as mathematics and computer science.
The k-coloring reconfiguration problem asks whether there exists a sequence of moves which transforms one k-coloring of a graph G into another. A move in this case is a type …

Symmetry Analysis Of The Canonical Connection On Lie Groups:Co-Dimension Two Abelian Nilradical With Abelian And Non Abelian Complement, Nouf Alrubea Almutiben

Theses and Dissertations

We consider the symmetry algebra of the geodesic equations of the canonical
connection on a Lie groups. We mainly consider the solvable indecomposable four,
five and six-dimensional Lie algebras with co-dimension two abelian nilradical, that
have an abelian and not abelian complement. In this particular case, we have only
one algebra in dimension four namely; A4,12 , and three algebras in dimension five
namely; A5,33, A5,34, and A5,35 In dimension six, based on the list of Lie algebras in
Turkowski’s list, there are nineteen such algebras namely; A6,1- A6,19 that have an
abelian complement, and there are eight algebras that …

Optimizing Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Technique For Personalized Breast Cancer Radiotherapy, Srinidhi Rajagopalan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is entrenched in advancing the practice of 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D CRT) for breast cancer patients by meticulously evaluating the impact of different Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) techniques on dosimetric parameters. This study aims to ascertain the quantitative benefits of varied breathing techniques, primarily focusing on the 'Ultimate DIBH' method's efficacy in sparing critical organs such as the heart and lungs.

The comprehensive analysis of different DIBH techniques in this research is not merely an academic exercise but is geared towards substantiating the hypothesized advantages of these techniques with empirical data. By generating …