Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Exploring Crystal Polymorphism In Additive-Assisted Chemical Vapor-Deposited Transition Metal Chalcogenides And Oxides, Lawrence Kirimi Mubwika

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Crystal polymorphism is a phenomenon in which compounds with the same chemical formula can be crystallized into different crystal structures. This phenomenon can be observed in elemental materials, such as diamond and graphite, as well as in compounds, such as the trigonal (1H) or octahedral (1T) prismatic MoS₂. Crystals can also exhibit polytypism by stacking different polymorphs in a certain order, with the stacking sequence determining the variation between polytypes. Although all polymorphs and polytypes have the same chemical composition, each polymorph and polytype possesses unique electronic and physical properties.

This study explores the additive-assisted chemical vapor deposition …

A Multi-Wavelength Determination Of The Total Luminosity And Star Formation Rate Of The Milky Way, Joshua L. Mascoop

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The star formation rate (SFR) of the Milky Way is poorly understood in comparison to the SFR of other galaxies. In order to better find the Galaxy's place in the universe, it is imperative to understand the star formation activity occurring within it. We characterize the Galactic \hii\ region luminosity function (LF) at multiple infrared and radio wavelengths using a sample of 797 first Galactic quadrant \hii regions compiled from the WISE Catalog of Galactic \hii Regions. This sample is statistically complete for all regions powered by single stars of type O9.5V and earlier.

We find that neither a single …

Advances In Machine Learning Aided Seismic Interpretation And Inversion For Subsurface Characterization, Tobi Micheal Ore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Geophysical data are used to “remotely sense” the subsurface to illuminate structures, stratigraphy, and features that are of interest in the exploration for energy, suitable storage for carbon dioxide, geothermal development, and environmental considerations. The interpretations of these data typically are regarded as partially an art, as it depends on the experience of the interpreter. This is further exacerbated with the big data era as this data is large and takes several days, even longer, to manually interpret. To bridge this gap of speed and subjective bias, machine learning has been successfully applied to automate the geophysical interpretation process. This …

Estimating Home Range Size And Density Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In West Virginia, Sarah M. Pesi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Big game hunting is an important source of revenue and recreation in the United States. Of big game species, white-tailed deer (Odocileus virginianus) are the most heavily pursued. White-tailed deer are a widespread generalist species, capable of existing at high densities. Hunting is often used as the primary method of managing deer populations, particularly in the eastern United States, where there is a lack of large predators. When populations reach high densities, there can be negative effects on the environment and conflicts with humans. Managers must consider both creating adequate hunting opportunities and reducing negative impacts when managing …

A Hyperbolic Relaxation Solver For Numerical Relativity, Thiago Assumpcao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerical relativity (NR) simulations are essential for self-consistently modeling compact binary mergers, whose observations form the heart of gravitational-wave science. Stable NR simulations are the result of mathematical and computational breakthroughs spanning several decades: early attempts to numerically solve the two-body problem in General Relativity (GR) date back to the 1960s, while the first successful black-hole binary merger simulations were performed in 2005 with the generalized harmonic coordinates, and in 2006 using the moving-puncture gauge.

Today, NR continues to drive progress in gravity research, with ongoing efforts focused on increasing physical realism in simulations containing matter, exploring alternative theories of …

X-Ray Absorption And Related Studies In Superconducting Devices And Magnetic Thin Films, Ghadendra Bahadur Bhandari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Superconducting and magnetic thin films are commonly used in sensors for analytical detectors, especially those that operate at very low temperatures, often below 1 Kelvin. These highly sensitive detectors, capable of functioning across a broad range of wavelengths, have garnered significant interest in scientific research. The focus of this thesis is to address a material challenge associated with an emerging technology known as microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs). The research involves the study of Al/Si and Al-Mn/Si-based thin films, as well as an investigation into the magnetic properties of LaMnO₃ thin films. LaMnO₃, a perovskite thin film that plays a …

Conformational Investigation Of Biopolymers Through Molecular Dynamics (Md) Simulations And In-Droplet Hdx-Ms Utilizing Cvssi, Samira Hajian Foroushani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the last two decades, mass spectrometry (MS) has received significant interest in biological study platforms, especially in the areas of proteomics and metabolomics. With the development of soft ionization methods like electrospray ionization (ESI), mass spectrometry has emerged as a potent method for directly characterizing proteins in their native state. The recent invention of capillary vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization has opened new avenues for the study of biopolymer native structure including the usage of droplet charge tuning and in-droplet hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) labeling. With this new technique comes the opportunity to study biopolymer ion structure preservation with molecular dynamics …

A Floquet Solver For Time Periodic Open Quantum Systems, Fenton Ross Clawson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Computational physics has been a backbone of experimental and theoretical physics since the 1940’s, when the first nuclear bomb and ballistic simulations were per- formed at Los Alamos Laboratory. Nowadays, however, simulation of open quan- tum systems has been formalized into coding packages and user-friendly functions, such as QuTiP or Qiskit, which allow users to simulate these systems without hav- ing the in-depth knowledge required to build the computational backbone from the ground-up. With the shift in modern quantum physics towards the realization of quantum computation, a strong computational background is still necessary to lend validity to theoretical results and …

Α-Hydroxy C–H Functionalization Of Alcohols Via Boronic Acid, Hat, Photoredox Triad Catalytic System, Seth Christopher Cowan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the research that I have conducted in my time at West Virginia University. Most of my work has focused on the development of methods and studies to further understand the α-OH C–H functionalization of alcohols. This work involves a system of catalysts including photocatalysts, HAT catalysts, and boronic acid catalysts. Chapter 1 highlights a background for each of these areas. Photoredox catalysis has been an increasing area of chemistry over the past two decades as this technique can be used to design conditions to form new bonds in a selective manner through the utilization of light energy. …

Characterizing Prescribed Fire With Terrestrial Lidar In The New Jersey Pine Barrens, Samuel Rhule Stockton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prescribed burning has become a commonly used tool in the mitigation of wildfire, though monitoring the way it changes ecosystems has historically been a time-intensive process. Rapid change across ecosystems has necessitated advancements in remote sensing technologies to quantify the changes taking place. Single-scan terrestrial LiDAR scanning is one such method of monitoring these changes through the quantification of ecosystem structural characteristics. Acute disturbance events such as fire can transform the structure of an ecosystem, and by extension, change the way that ecosystem functions. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in vegetation density and distribution following …

Experimental Verification And Time-Resolved Bispectral Analysis Of Nonlinear Coupling In The Toroidicity-Induced Alfv´En Eigenmode Spectrum, Gregory Allen Riggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In magnetically-confined fusion devices, the toroidicity-induced Alfv´en eigenmode (TAE) is a well-studied, weakly stable solution of the linearized ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. Due to intrinsic coupling of poloidal harmonics of the shear Alfv´en wave (SAW) in toroidal geometry, the rotational transform of magnetic field lines modulates the effective index of refraction, ensuring gaps in the so-called “Alfv´en continuum.” Experimental verification of theoretical predictions for various parameters of interest (i.e., frequency, mode structure, instability threshold, etc.) is established in the literature.

We present the first systematic study of TAE-TAE phase coherence in an experimental device, using the DIII-D tokamak. Crucially, nonlinear …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Reactivity Studies Of Pyridine Dipyrrolide Iron-Carbene Complexes With Electronically Distinct Carbene Moieties, Jose G. Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

First, three (^MesPDP^Ph) iron carbene complexes with electronically distinct carbene moieties were synthesized. These transitional iron carbene complexes were first characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as their spectra showed paramagnetically shifted resonances. Additionally, their respected solid state structures were collected via X-ray diffraction. The two donor/acceptor iron carbene complexes [(^MesPDP^Ph)Fe(C(CO₂Me)(4-FPh) and (^MesPDP^Ph)Fe(C(CO₂Me)(4-MeOPh)] demonstrated a weak Fe-O interaction between the iron center and ester function group while the (^MesPDP^Ph)Fe(IMe) displayed a C_2v symmetric structure in the …

The Search, The Localization, And The Characterization: Fast Radio Transients, Reshma Anna Thomas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fast radio transients are energetic bursts in centimeter or meter wave-lengths, lasting only milliseconds, and originating from both Galactic and extra-Galactic sources. In our Galaxy, these transients primarily originate from pulsars, which are rotating neutron stars. The more energetic extra-galactic transients, known as fast radio bursts (FRBs), have unknown origins. This thesis explores various techniques, including single dish and interferometric observations, to detect and accurately localize fast radio transients. It also investigates how the propagation effects of radio waves can reveal characteristics of the local environment and potential FRB sources. Furthermore, it demonstrates how FRBs can be used to study …

A Self-Supervised Knowledge Distillation Approach To Anomaly Detection In X-Ray Imagery, Kaden Quinn Mceldowney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many cargo containers enter the United States every day by truck, rail, and sea. As a result of the large number of cargo containers entering the United States, not all of them can be thoroughly inspected. Most of these containers contain properly documented and legal cargo, but some people take advantage of this situation by hiding illicit items in the cargo containers such as drugs. To more efficiently and thoroughly inspect cargo containers, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses X-ray imaging machines to obtain images that reveal the interior of cargo containers. These X-ray images must be inspected to ensure …

Geochemical Phase Associations Of Rare Earth Elements And Lithium In Black Shales Of The Usa: A Study In The Appalachian And Haynesville Basins, Shailee Bhattacharya

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical elements are an indispensable part of the clean energy transition. In the race for alternative energy technologies, lithium and rare earth elements have a proven record of being few of the most sought-after minerals. Limited availability of conventional mineral ores warrants a need to explore, understand and exploit unconventional sources of these elements. To that end, several studies have attempted to understand the rock and mineral assemblages of diverse geological systems. This doctoral thesis focuses on understanding the geochemistry of REE and Li in sedimentary environments, particularly black shale basins in the US. A suite of samples from natural …

A Portable, Digital Nucleic Acid Amplification Test For Use At The Point Of Care, Bethany J. Fike

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nucleic acid tests are key tools for the detection and diagnosis of many diseases. In many cases, the amplification of nucleic acids is required to reach a detectable level. Although nucleic acid tests have great success, there is a need to make nucleic acid amplification tests more accessible to a point-of-care (POC) setting for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of infectious diseases. Traditionally, these tests are performed through bulk Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and are monitored in real time with a change in fluorescence intensity. With these bulk testing methods, only a qualitative or semi-quantitative result is possible. For more exact …

Machine Learning Based Intrusion Detection Framework For Can Bus Vulnerabilities In Modern Vehicles, Obinna C. Agbo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a crucial communication backbone in modern vehicles, connecting various Electronic Control Units (ECUs). However, inherent design weaknesses such as the lack of encryption and authentication make CAN networks vulnerable to cyber-attacks, including spoofing, Denial of Service (DoS), and fuzzing attacks. This thesis thoroughly evaluates these vulnerabilities and the limitations of existing security frameworks like Message Authentication Codes (MACs) and encryption, advocating for the adoption of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) as a more practical solution for CAN bus security. The proposed IDS leverages advanced machine learning techniques to accurately detect intrusions, even under complex …