Empirically Tuning Hpc Kernels With Ifko, Md Majedul Haque Sujon

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

iFKO (iterative Floating point Kernel Optimizer) is an open-source iterative empirical compilation framework which can be used to tune high performance computing (HPC) kernels. The goal of our research is to advance iterative empirical compilation to the degree that the performance it can achieve is comparable to that delivered by painstaking hand tuning in assembly. This will allow many HPC researchers to spend precious development time on higher level aspects of tuning such as parallelization, as well as enabling computational scientists to develop new algorithms that demand new high performance kernels. At present, algorithms that cannot use hand-tuned performance libraries …

Application Of Grating-Based Interferometry To Additive Manufacturing, Lithium-Ion Batteries, And Crystals, Adam Joseph Brooks

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

X-ray and neutron imaging are convenient ways to non-destructively observe novel materials. X-rays provide advantages of low cost and high brilliance while neutrons show bulk and isotopic sensitivity. Imaging provides a way for observing chemical and physical properties of materials without the need for destruction. The way of the imaging future is utilizing imaging with grating-based interferometry. In comparison to traditional radiography and tomography, by using absorption and phase gratings in the beam path, the absorption, phase, and scattering of a sample can be detected. In essence, three image datasets can be obtained in one experiment, saving substantially on costs …

Design, Synthesis, Characterization And Evaluation Of Near Infrared Bodipy Dyes For Various Applications, Qianli Meng

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

4,4-Difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-5-indacene (BODIPY) have drawn a large number of research attention, for its numerous useful application in the fields of material and biology. Small modification of this well-known fluophore has been shown to optimize its photophysical and chemical properties. This work mainly focuses on functionalization of BODIPY cores with halogenated atoms, particularly iodine, and their subsequent post-functionalization reactions, mainly cross-coupling reaction and substitutions, for various further applications. Chapter 1 of this dissertation gives a general overview of BODIPYs including their synthetic strategies, post-functionalization, and how BODIPYs are utilized in many biological applications. Chapter 2 mainly focuses on the synthesis and characterization …

Ex-Companions Of Supernovae Progenitors, Zhichao Xue

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Supernovae (SNe) are titanic explosions that end the life of stars. Fast expanding ejecta can create brightness that is comparable to the entire luminosity of the host galaxy for weeks. Eventually, the ejecta run into the ambient medium, creating the so-called supernova remnant (SNR) that fades away in ~ 10,000 years. SNe come from two completely different mechanisms. The Type Ia SNe (SNIa) are powered by thermonuclear runaway when a white dwarf (WD) in a binary system accretes enough mass from a companion star. The Core Collapse supernovae (CCSNe) are massive stars that run out of fuel at the end …

Asymptotic Formulae For Restricted Unimodal Sequences, Richard Alexander Frnka

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Additive enumeration problems, such as counting the number of integer partitions, lie at the intersection of various branches of mathematics including combinatorics, number theory, and analysis. Extending partitions to integer unimodal sequences has also yielded interesting combinatorial results and asymptotic formulae, which form the subject of this thesis. Much like the important work of Hardy and Ramanujan proving the asymptotic formula for the partition function, Auluck and Wright gave similar formulas for unimodal sequences. Following the circle method of Wright, we provide the asymptotic expansion for unimodal sequences with odd parts. This is then generalized to a two-parameter family of …

Condition Of Birds In Amazonian Rainforest Fragments And Second-Growth Forests, Angelica Maria Hernandez Palma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Deforestation modifies otherwise intact expanses of forest into small, isolated fragments. In addition to fragmentation, deforestation also creates abrupt forest edges and large areas of regenerating vegetation where land is abandoned after clearing. Understanding how changes in the landscape affect the physical condition of birds is crucial for managing populations in human-modified landscapes. Here I use the biomarkers feather growth rate and feather quality (ptilochronology), fluctuating asymmetry (FA), and stress hormones from feathers (CORT), to estimate the physical condition of Amazonian understory birds living in forest fragments, second-growth forests, and continuous forests. Feather CORT revealed how fragmentation disrupts interspecific interactions; …

Fluorescent Probe Interrogation Of A Cytoprotective Cancer-Linked Oxidoreductase In Two-Dimensional Human Cell Cultures And Solid Tumor Mimics, Bijeta Prasai

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fluorescence molecular imaging is an emerging field with potential to aid in optically guided surgery for cancer treatment. To overcome the drawbacks of always-on fluorescent probes, such as indocyanine green, activatable fluorescent probes are being developed that allow high signal-to-background imaging for better discrimination of cancerous cells from normal cells. For activation, turn-on fluorescent probes rely on the presence of biomarkers such as antibodies, cell-surface receptors or enzymes that are highly specific to tumor cells. hNQO1 (human NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase isoenzyme 1) is considered as one of such cancer-associated biomarkers that are present intracellularly in cancers of multiple origins. It …

Resonant Interactions In Strong Field Laser Physics, Seth Jacob Camp

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We present a theoretical study of the influence of resonant enhancement on high harmonic generation for harmonics near the ionization threshold of helium and argon atoms. This is done by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation (TDSE) for the interaction between an atom and a driving laser pulse. By varying parameters of the driving laser pulse, we are able to identify the enhancement of harmonics resulting from multiphoton resonances between the ground state and Stark-shifted excited states of the atom. In this way, spectral and temporal signatures of resonant enhancement are identified and highlighted. We also study trajectory dynamics in HHG. …

Maintaining High Performance Across All Problem Sizes And Parallel Scales Using Microkernel-Based Linear Algebra, Md Rakib Hasan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Linear algebra underlies a large proportion of computational problems. With the continuous increase of scale on modern hardware, performance of small sized linear algebra has become increasingly important. To overcome the shortcomings of conventional approaches, we employ a new approach using a microkernel framework provided by ATLAS to improve the performance of a few linear algebra routines for all problem sizes. Our initial research consists of improving the performance of parallel LU factorization in ATLAS for which we were able to achieve up to 2.07x and 2.66x speedup for small problems, up to 91% and 87% of theoretical peak performance …

The Decline And Recovery Of Thermal Oxidative Stability Of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Blends, Abigail Schoor Cohen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Professor Bruce D. Beaver

The oxidative stability of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) has generally been expected to continuously decline over time. However, recent studies have suggested that it may fluctuate.^1-2 In this study, the oxidative stability of stored commercially purchased ULSD was monitored with a methanol extraction method.³ In this methodology, proposed by Hardy and Wechter, fuel blends are extracted with methanol before and after thermal stressing.⁴ The methanol-soluble layer contains the oxygenated and oxidizable components of the fuel (SMORS) and the change in this mass upon stressing thus represents the oxidative stability of …

Rationalizing The Band Gap Tunability Of Semiconductors Via Electronic Structure Calculations, Matthew N. Srnec

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The polymorphs of titanium dioxide and various diamond-like semiconductor materials are promising candidates in photovoltaic solar cell applications. Several of these polymorphs have been studied with experimental and computational methods, which often aim at tuning the electronic structure, particularly the band gap value of the crystalline solid. Prior studies report that the addition of a substituent into the structure of titanium dioxide decreases its band gap value, but the reasons for this are unknown. Possible explanations for the change in band gap involve the substituent atom's crystal radius, electronegativity, and ionization energy. Understanding the cause of these changes will provide …

Finding Nondestructive Parameters For Root-To-Shoot Ratios In Douglas-Fir, Grand Fir, And Redwood Saplings In Northwest California For Biomass And Carbon Storage Estimates, Walter A. Kast

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

ABSTRACT

FINDING NONDESTRUCTIVE PARAMETERS FOR ROOT-TO-SHOOT RATIOS IN DOUGLAS-FIR, GRAND FIR, AND REDWOOD SAPLINGS IN NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA FOR BIOMASS AND CARBON STORAGE ESTIMATES

Walter A. Kast

There is a need for better understanding of how woody biomass is allocated above and belowground and how this allocation might differ among tree species. In this field of research, investigators face challenges such as the laborious task of removing trees from the soil with destructive sampling, and the cleaning, drying, and weighing of belowground biomass (BGB). Therefore, researchers and practitioners most often rely on existing models to predict BGB from easily-measurable aboveground variables …

Weight Perception And Weight Loss Behaviors: A Comparison Between Adolescents With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder, Elanor J. Anderson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy of weight status perception among adolescents with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. A secondary purpose is to compare weight loss behaviors between children with and without ASD.

METHODS: This study measured weight-perception and weight loss behaviors among Irish-thirteen-year olds with ASD (n=47) and typically developing (TD) children (n=47) (72% male). Participants completed questionnaires assessing perception of weight and weight loss behaviors. . Based on BMI, calculated from height and weight measurements, participants were classified as non-overweight, overweight and obese. Several Chi-square tests were used to examine (1) differences …

Forward Osmosis For Wastewater Treatment And Energy Recovery: A Techno-Economic Analysis, Patrick William Buckwalter

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A novel wastewater treatment system was investigated using forward osmosis membranes to treat municipal wastewater. Treatment by forward osmosis was determined to cost $10 million per million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater capacity over a 20-year lifetime, with an energy consumption of 870 kWh per million gallons. A case study at the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant was conducted to investigate a treatment system that combines energy recovery from algae biomass with forward osmosis membrane treatment using local seawater as a draw solution. Total system cost was calculated to be $29.7 million over a 20-year lifetime with a 2.3 MGD …

The Influence Of Canopy Cover And Climate On Early Life-Stage Vital Rates For Northern Red-Legged Frogs (Rana Aurora), And The Implications For Population Growth Rates, Kecly Mcharry

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Many amphibian species are in decline due to habitat loss and changing climates. Understanding how habitat characteristics and climate influence vital rates, and if they act in concert or in opposition can inform management decisions. This study investigated the potential interaction of canopy cover and climate on early stage vital rates of northern red-legged frogs. Demographic data were collected from sample populations in experimental canopy cover treatments across a latitudinal distribution. Rearing cages were used to estimate hatch success, and mark-recapture surveys to estimate tadpole survival. Ambient air temperature was used as an index of climate because it is easily …

Sedimentation And Erosion Patterns Within Anabranching Channels In A Lowland River Restoration Project, Ivan Medel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Phase 2A of the Salt River Ecosystem Restoration Project (SRERP) was implemented to increase transport efficiency of water and sediment through a low gradient river reach to alleviate flooding on adjacent properties. The SRERP utilizes a unique anabranching channel design that concentrates base flows within a single deep, narrow channel overflowing onto an alternating series of higher elevation active benches at flood stages. This paper investigated the performance of the project’s hydraulic conveyance and general utility of anabranching channels as a restoration alternative by assessing the distribution and magnitude of deposition and erosion response patterns.

Aggradation was not observed within …

Synthesis And Fluorescent Properties Of A New Flavonoid Compound, Ashley L. Ingle

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Flavonoids are highly luminescent compounds that are used in diagnosing and treating certain diseases.They are composed of two aromatic rings (ring A and ring B) and a six-membered heterocyclic pyran ring (ring C) that contains a carbonyl and hydroxyl group, which are responsible for unique photophysical characteristics associated with flavonoids. The target flavonoids (compound 1, or 1, and compound 2 or 2) were synthesized, purified and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The photophysical properties of the flavonoid were investigated in varying solvents by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Such properties include Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT), Intramolecular Charge …

Preservation Of Sea Anemone Burrows In Silurian (~432 Million Years Old) Carbonate Rocks Of Southeastern Indiana, Usa, Marissa Tomin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Preservation of trace fossils (ichnofossils) in siliciclastic environments is often quite different from preservation in carbonate environments, representing an important source of variation that must be well understood in order to enhance interpretations of paleoenvironments and paleoecology. This study focuses on Conostichus, a relatively common burrow constructed by solitary sea anemones. These trace fossils are generally well-preserved (i.e., they display detailed external features) in siliciclastic rocks but are typically little more than conical masses in carbonate rocks. However, certain specimens recovered from the middle Silurian Massie Formation at the Napoleon quarry of southeastern Indiana are composed entirely out of …

Statistics-Bierce Library Study, Tyler J. Hushour

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This is a report from two surveys that I created and administered to students and faculty at Bierce library who came to the Circulation Desk or the Tech Desk, as well as some of my other findings when periodically looking around the library to see where students like to study or hang-out. There was a written survey given at the Circulation Desk, and a different survey given at the Tech Check-Out Desk. The project is for Melanie Smith-Farrell, the head of Access Services, and is based on a similar study Ian McCullough did in the science library. While this is …

Multiple States Of Nitrile Hydratase From Rhodococcus Equi Tg328-2: Structural And Mechanistic Insights From Electron Paramagnetic Resonance And Density Functional Theory Studies, Natalia Stein, Natalie Gumataotao, Natalia Hajnas, Rui Wu, Karunagala Pathiranage Wasantha Lankathilaka, Uwe Bornscheuer, Dali Liu, Adam T. Fiedler, Richard C. Holz, Brian Bennett

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

Iron-type nitrile hydratases (NHases) contain an Fe(III) ion coordinated in a characteristic “claw setting” by an axial cysteine thiolate, two equatorial peptide nitrogens, the sulfur atoms of equatorial cysteine-sulfenic and cysteine-sulfinic acids, and an axial water/hydroxyl moiety. The cysteine-sulfenic acid is susceptible to oxidation, and the enzyme is traditionally prepared using butyric acid as an oxidative protectant. The as-prepared enzyme exhibits a complex electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum due to multiple low-spin (S = ¹/₂) Fe(III) species. Four distinct signals can be assigned to the resting active state, the active state bound to butyric acid, an …

Active Site Structures Of Cyp11a1 In The Presence Of Its Physiological Substrates And Alterations Upon Binding Of Adrenodoxin, Qianhong Zhu, Piotr J. Mak, Robert C. Tuckey, James R. Kincaid

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

The rate-limiting step in the steroid synthesis pathway is catalyzed by CYP11A1 through three sequential reactions. The first two steps involve hydroxylations at positions 22 and 20, generating 20(R),22(R)-dihydroxycholesterol (20R,22R-DiOHCH), with the third stage leading to a C20–C22 bond cleavage, forming pregnenolone. This work provides detailed information about the active site structure of CYP11A1 in the resting state and substrate-bound ferric forms as well as the CO-ligated adducts. In addition, high-quality resonance Raman spectra are reported for the dioxygen complexes, providing new insight into the status of Fe–O–O fragments encountered during the …

Recombination Reactions As A Possible Mechanism Of Mass-Independent Fractionation Of Sulfur Isotopes In The Archean Atmosphere Of Earth, Dmitri Babikov

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A hierarchy of isotopically substituted recombination reactions is formulated for production of sulfur allotropes in the anoxic atmosphere of Archean Earth. The corresponding system of kinetics equations is solved analytically to obtain concise expressions for isotopic enrichments, with focus on mass-independent isotope effects due to symmetry, ignoring smaller mass-dependent effects. Proper inclusion of atom-exchange processes is shown to be important. This model predicts significant and equal depletions driven by reaction stoichiometry for all rare isotopes: ³³S, ³⁴S, and ³⁶S. Interestingly, the ratio of capital Δ values obtained within this model for ³³S and ³⁶S is …

Redox And Spectroscopic Properties Of Iron Porphyrin Nitroxyl In The Presence Of Weak Acids, Md. Hafizur Rahman, Michael D. Ryan

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

The spectroelectrochemistry and voltammetry of Fe(OEP) (NO) in the presence of substituted phenols was studied. Cyclic voltammetry showed that two closely spaced waves were observed for the reduction of Fe(OEP) (NO) in the presence of substituted phenols. The first wave was a single electron reduction under voltammetric conditions. The second wave was kinetically controlled, multielectron process. Visible spectroelectrochemistry of Fe(OEP) (NO) in the presence of substituted phenols showed that three species were present during the electrolysis. Additional spectroscopic studies indicated that the two reduction species were Fe(OEP) (HNO) and Fe(OEP)(H₂NOH). The Fe(OEP) (HNO) species, which can be generated …

Light-Driven Hydrogen Production From Aqueous Solutions Based On A New Dubois-Type Nickel Catalyst, Y. Zhou, S. Yang, J. Huang

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

In this work, we report a new photocatalytic system that links multifunctional semiconductor nanocrystals with emerging water-soluble molecular catalysts made of earth-abundant elements for H₂ generation [Ni(P₂^RN₂^R′)₂(BF₄)₂]⁴⁻, R = Ph, R′ = [PhSO₃]⁻ (NiS). This noble metal free hybrid exhibits remarkable catalytic activity with a turnover number of 511 for H₂ production and a photon-to-H₂ conversion efficiency of 12.5%. The mechanistic insight into such high efficiency in this photocatalytic system was examined using a combination of steady-state emission and time-resolved …

Assessing Patient And Caregiver Intent To Use Mobile Device Videoconferencing For Remote Mechanically-Ventilated Patient Management, Brian R. Smith

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Michigan Medicine adult Assisted Ventilation Clinic (AVC) supports patients with neuromuscular disorders and spinal cord injuries and their caregivers at home, helping them avoid expensive emergency department visits, hospitalization, and unnecessary or excessive treatments. Mobile device videoconferencing provides an effective capability for remote mechanically-ventilated patient management but must rely upon an unknown infrastructure comprising patient and caregiver mobile device ownership, connectivity, and experience—and intent to use the service if provided. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent of this infrastructure and the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and intent to use this mobile device …

The Anticancer Effects Of The Different Analogs Of Cysteine Deleted Tachyplesin On A549 Lung Cancer Cells, Nathan Riley Hendrickson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

It has been previously shown that cysteine-deleted tachyplesin (CDT) and its many analogs display antibacterial effects. However, little has been said about its possible anticancer effects and which analogs serve as the best inhibitors of the growing cancer cells. This research focused on CDT and four of its analogs: All D-CDT, Reverse DCDT, Reverse CDT, and Serine-Control CDT. MTT assays against the A549 adenocarcinoma lung cancer cell line showed All D-CDT to be the most effective analog in preventing cancer cell growth. Hyaluronidase and apoptosis assays were performed to better understand the mechanism by which the All D-CDT is preventing …

Light Soaking Phenomena In Organic-Inorganic Mixed Halide Perovskite Single Crystals, Hye Ryung Byun, Dae Young Park, Hye Min Oh, Gon Namkoong, Mun Seok Jeong

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Recently, organic inorganic mixed halide perovskite (MAPbX₃; MA = CH₃NH₃^+, X = Cl^-, Br^-, or I^-) single crystals with low defect densities have been highlighted as candidate materials for high-efficiency photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Here we report the optical and structural investigations of mixed halide perovskite (MAPbBr_3-xI_x) single crystals. Mixed halide perovskite single crystals showed strong light soaking phenomena with light illumination conditions that were correlated to the trapping and detrapping events from defect sites. By systematic investigation with optical analysis, we found that the …

Variable Structure Feedback Control With Application To Spacecraft With Small Thrust Propulsion Systems, Samuel J. Kitchen-Mckinley

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Small spacecrafts requiring small propulsion systems are becoming more popular for low Earth orbit. It is important for these research satellites to have accurate guidance and control systems. Small propulsion systems will also be beneficial for multiple small spacecrafts used future exploration expeditions beyond low Earth orbit. These small spacecrafts benefit from the simplicity of low thrust cold gas propulsion systems. Additionally, large spacecrafts using low thrust, high specific impulse propellants for main propulsion systems, such as ion engines, allow longer and more flexible missions, including Earth orbiting spacecraft and interplanetary spacecraft.

In order to extend the life of future …

Femtosecond Laser Induced Structural Dynamics And Melting Of Cu (111) Single Crystal. An Ultrafast Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction Study, Runze Li, Omar A. Ashour, Jie Chen, H. E. Elsayed-Ali, Peter M. Rentzepis

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Femtosecond, 8.04 keV x-ray pulses are used to probe the lattice dynamics of a 150 nm Cu (111) single crystal on a mica substrate irradiated with 400 nm, 100 fs laser pulses. For pump fluences below the damage and melting thresholds, we observed lattice contraction due to the formation of a blast force and coherent acoustic phonons with a period of ∼69 ps. At larger pump fluence, solid to liquid phase transition, annealing, and recrystallization were measured in real time by monitoring the intensity evolution of the probing fs x-ray rocking curves, which agreed well with theoretical simulation results. The …

Dynamical Processes Of Gravity Waves Propagation And Dissipation, And Statistical Characteristics Of Their Momentum Flux In The Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere, Bing Cao

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) (⇠80–110 km) is dominated by abundant atmospheric waves, of which gravity waves are one of the least understood due to large varieties in wave characteristics as well as potential sources. Gravity waves play an important role in the atmosphere by influencing the thermal balance and helping to drive the global circulation. But due to their sub-grid scale, the effects of gravity waves in General Circulation Models (GCMs) are mostly parameterized. The investigations of gravity waves in this dissertation are from two perspectives: the dynamical processes of gravity wave propagation and dissipation in the MLT …