Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Case Study Using The Transparency Framework And Artificial Intelligence To Promote Effective Writing And Student Success In A Writing-Intensive Course, Elizabeth A. Brown, Maria Kronenburg, Ashlee Steeley, Diana Tagbor

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Program evaluation data suggest that undergraduate students struggle with writing in a clear and concise manner and appropriately citing. Faculty implemented the plan-do study-act cycle to pilot the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) project framework and to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss approaches to using AI, along with the TILT framework, in a writing-intensive course to identify the pros and cons of using ChatGPT in an online classroom. The TILT framework reinforces adult learning by helping students clearly understand the assignment's purpose and establish a clear relationship between assignment and students' professional lives. Faculty encouraged …

A Qualitative Analysis Of College Students' Interest In Mhealth Solutions, Leslie Hoglund, Craig M. Becker, Cara Tonn

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

This study explores college students' perceptions of an AI-driven mHealth application designed to promote well-being. With rising mental health challenges in academic settings, students increasingly seek digital tools that provide holistic support for physical, mental, and financial health. Through focus groups, this qualitative study examines students' preferences for personalized health tracking, educational content, and flexible reminders within a private, supportive community. Key findings emphasize students' desire for a balanced, all-in-one app that integrates health and wellness tools without overwhelming them with notifications. Students also highlighted the importance of social media integration for outreach, though concerns were raised about potential stress …

Error In The Loop: How Human Mistakes Can Improve Algorithmic Learning, Ryan W. Copus, Cait Spackman, Hannah Laqueur

Faculty Works

Algorithms often outperform humans in making decisions, in large part because they are more consistent. Despite this, there remains widespread demand to keep a “human in the loop” to address concerns about fairness and transparency. Although evidence suggests that most human overrides are errors, we argue these errors can provide value: they generate new data from which algorithms can learn. To remain accurate, algorithms must be updated over time, but data generated solely from algorithmic decisions is biased, including only cases selected by the algorithm (e.g., individuals released on parole). Training on this algorithmically selected data can significantly reduce predictive …

Geometric Properties Of Positive Definite Matrices: Means, Order, And Metrics, Blaine Dubois

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we study matrix means from a geometric point of view. In particular, we consider divergences of the form Tr[A + B − 2G(A, B)] for certain Geometric-Type matrix means G(A, B). We derive alternative formulations of this distance function through the application of one-sided inverses of G(A, B). When G(A, B) = A#B, we give a curve parametrization of the straight-line path between two points with respect to this semi-metric and present conditions under which this holds for other Geometric-Type means. For read- ability and self-containment, we introduce most of the preliminary concepts to build up to …

Bifurcation And Index Theory With Applications To Nonlinear Differential Equations, Asrafi Yesmin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a rigorous framework for the study of bifurcation phenomena in nonlinear differential equations. Semigroup theory and index theory are introduced to examine qualitative changes in the solution structures of the nonlinear dynamic system as the parameters vary. The theoretical framework is then applied to several nonlinear differential equations from biology and physics.

Niobium Titanium Nitride Thin Film Deposition, Optimization, And Characterization, Hudson Horne

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Superconducting thin film devices such as Josephson junctions are a staple of cutting-edge quantum and classical computing architectures. Functional devices require optimized materials with properties suited to the device application; properties like superconducting critical temperature, critical current density, resistivity, and surface roughness are important depending on the intended device application. Niobium titanium nitride (NbTiN), a fcc transition metal nitride, is a promising material for these applications, with a superconducting critical temperature among the highest of the superconductors described by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schreiffer (BCS) theory. NbTiN has excellent mechanical and electrical characteristics and is easily deposited via reactive magnetron sputtering …

Polar Decompositions And Spectral Properties Of Linear Operator Pencils, Slaviša Djordjević, Jaewoong Kim, Jasang Yoon

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper, we introduce the spherical polar decomposition of the linear pencil of an ordered pair T=(T1,T2) . Using this decomposition, we define the generalized spherical Aluthge transforms for the linear pencil of an ordered pair T=(T1,T2) and give spectral properties between the linear pencil and the generalized spherical Aluthge transform of it. In detail, we study whether the spectral properties of the linear pencil of an ordered pair T=(T1,T2) are invariant under the generalized spherical Aluthge transform.

Using Trace Gas Measurements As A Transport Diagnostic For Tropical Convection: A Combined Model And Observation Study, Albane Hoxha

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle For Atmospheric Remote Sensing, Omar J. Addasi

Dissertations and Theses

This paper explores the development of a quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, a.k.a. drone) for atmospheric remote sensing of temperature, pressure, humidity, and PM2.5 particulate matter quantities. A 3-D printed drone body is designed and flight tuning is performed. An optimal length for an upward extending mast for the drone body is determined. Low cost, lightweight sensors are compared against higher precision sensors in both static and dynamic conditions. In addition, an initial investigation into the design of a pressure sensor based anemometer is performed.

Using Deep Neural Nets In Writer Identification & Analysis, Aditya Majithia

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis focuses on developing automated deep learning methods for writer identification and writer attribute prediction from handwriting. It introduces two novel architectures: Convolutional Transformer Encoder (CTE) and Convolutional Swin Encoder (CSE). CTE is designed for determining authorship from handwritten text, be it modern or historical handwriting. CTE tracks subtle features and cues from handwriting strokes to distinguish authorship. It is the first of its kind capable to operate on historical handwritten fragments, setting it apart from existing methods that rely on entire document pages. CSE is designed to determine multiple attributes of an author such as authorship, gender, age …

Utilizing Deep Learning Audio Models For Blind And Low Vision Crosswalk Assistance, Wayne Lam

Dissertations and Theses

Navigating urban environments poses significant challenges for blind and low vision (BLV) individuals, particularly at street intersections where determining when it is safe to cross can be life-threatening. In New York City, where pedestrian fatalities are on the rise and only 2% of intersections are equipped with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), alternative solutions are urgently needed. This thesis proposes an audio-based deep learning approach to support BLV individuals at crosswalks by detecting traffic movement direction and idling states using spatial sound. With 4-channel audio capturing capabilities of wearables, such as Meta Project Aria glasses, we explore state-of-the-art sound event localization …

Application Of Physics-Informed Neural Networks On Crop Yield Prediction At Multiple Scales, Aditya P. Prabhu, Pratishtha Poudel, James V. Krogmeier

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Accurately predicting crop yields is a critical challenge in sustainable agriculture, food security, and farm management. Traditional process-based models rely on agronomic domain knowledge, crop physiology and statistical approaches, while purely data-driven approaches leverage machine learning or deep learning models using meteorological and spatial data. Unfortunately, these black-box models(Data-drive approaches) often lack interpretability and fail to incorporate well-established physical principles. This project explores a hybrid approach by implementing Physics Informed Neural Networks, mainly, physics-based recurrent neural networks (PI-RNNs) for time-series yield prediction. PINNs allow for the integration of scientific knowledge directly into the model by embedding physical laws as constraints …

Microbial Mats In Dinosaur Ichnocoenoses, Nora Noffke, Paul C. Murphey, Roger C. Buntin, Martin G. Lockley

OES Faculty Publications

Until now, the significance of microbial mats in preservation of dinosaur tracks and in reconstructing the palaeoenvironment in which dinosaurs roamed was rarely studied. Dinosaur tracks are commonly found close to ancient aquatic bodies where moist sediment had once allowed footstep registration. At such sites, epibenthic or endobenthic microbial mats may have developed as well and may have led to exquisite track preservation. Microbial mats in coastal, lacustrine or flood plain environments cause ‘microbially induced sedimentary structures—MISS’, which are micobialites found in sandy or evaporitic settings. The microbial structures record environmental parameters including meteorological conditions that existed at the time …

Core-Top Constraints On The Ecology And Paleothermometry Of Planktic Foraminifera In The Indian Ocean, Ryan H. Glaubke, Elisabeth L. Sikes, Natalie E. Umling, Katherine A. Allen, Matthew W. Schmidt

OES Faculty Publications

The magnesium-to‑calcium ratio (Mg/Ca) of fossil foraminifera is a widely used geochemical proxy for reconstructing past ocean temperatures. Culturing experiments have shown that, for some species, nonthermal influences like salinity and carbonate chemistry play a non-trivial role in the incorporation of Mg into foraminiferal calcite. Inclusion of these variables into Mg/Ca calibrations have provided a better fit to core top and sediment trap data in some recent studies, but the widespread covariation of potential control variables in the open ocean and the lack of multivariate calibrations for some species warrants additional work. Here, we assess Mg/Ca calibrations for four common …

Agu's Scientific Legacy, Eileen E. Hofmann, Tissa Illangasekare, Francis A. Macdonald, Michael J. Mcphaden, Anne Meltzer, Imke De Pater, Susan J. Roberts, Anne M. Thompson

OES Faculty Publications

The AGU community is a resource for insights into how past research has influenced today's science and will continue to inform the Earth and Space sciences of the future. To capture the voices and opinions from this community, three interviews were held at the 2024 AGU Meeting and broadcast on AGUTV. The interviews with Richard Alley, Susan Lozier and Rana Fine aligned with the daily themes for the 2024 AGU Meeting. The interviewees shared insights from their experiences about the importance of science and how science has shaped their careers and society.

Vanishing Of Local Cohomology With Applications To Hodge Theory, Scott Hiatt

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Let H = ((H, F •), L) be a polarized variation of Hodge structure on a smooth quasi-projective variety U . By M. Saito’s theory of mixed Hodge modules, the variation of Hodge structure H can be viewed as a polarized Hodge module M ∈ HM (U ). Let X be a compactification of U , and j : U ↪→ X is the natural map. In this paper, we use local cohomology with mixed Hodge module theory to study j+M ∈ DbM HM (X). In particular, we study the graded pieces of the de Rham complex GrF p DR(j+M) …

Characterization And Optimization Of Sand And Tung Oil-Based Resins For Binder-Jet 3d Printing, Daniel I. Ajiola

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Binder-jet 3D printing as a transformative technology in additive manufacturing, offers the ability to fabricate complex structures with diverse materials. This thesis investigates the use of a sustainable tung oil-based resin to create composites, exploring the potential for an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic binders.

The aim of this research is to develop and characterize a bio-based resin formulation, using tung oil as the primary binder, for application in binder-jet 3D printing with sand as the reinforcement. The resin formulation was prepared by combining tung oil, n-butyl methacrylate, divinylbenzene, and di-tert-butyl peroxide in precise proportions, ensuring a balanced mixture that supports …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Biobased Polymer From Tung Oil And Pine Rosin & Characterization Of Polyhydroxybutyrate., Arijanet P. Osumah

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents two independents but thematically aligned research projects focused on the development and evaluation of sustainable polymers. The first involves the synthesis and characterization of a biobased polymer derived from tung oil and pine rosin. Tung oil, which is a triglyceride was chemically modified to produce tung oil diglyceride (TDG), which subsequently reacted with abietic acid-rich pine rosin to yield tung oil abietate (TOA), a biobased monomer. The TOA monomer was polymerized with butyl methacrylate (BMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) using di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as a thermal initiator. The resulting polymer was thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy …

Assessment And Health Benefit Of Vitamin C Using A549 Cell, Yetunde Adepoju

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vital micronutrient recognized for its antioxidant capacity and essential bodily functions, such as collagen formation, neurotransmitter activity, and regulation of the immune system. This study explores how vitamin C can protect and potentially heal cells under oxidative stress and inflammation, using A549 cells, a human lung epithelial cell line, as the model system. The cells were exposed to varying concentrations of vitamin C dissolved in water, DMSO, and 5% DMSO. To assess the outcome, cell viability was measured with an MTT assay. In addition, the expression of key genes related to oxidative stress and …

The Petrology And Geochemistry Of The Montagna Grande-Monte Gibele Trachytic Shield Volcano (Pantelleria, Italy)., John C. White, Ray Macdonald, Pierangelo Romano, Boguslaw Baginski, Silvio G. Rotolo, Beata Marciniak-Maliszewska, Alessandra Cinquegrani

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The 45.7 ± 1.0 ka (2σ) eruption of the compositionally zoned (comenditic trachyte to pantellerite) Green Tuff ignimbrite on the volcanic island of Pantelleria, Italy, was followed by the extrusion of a series of post-caldera metaluminous to mildly peralkaline trachyte lavas between 26.2 ± 2.0 and 22.3 ± 2.9 ka (2σ). This study uses whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions, mineral compositions, geothermobarometry, and petrogenetic models to examine the role of trachytes in the evolution of the Pantelleria magma system. Although previous studies have suggested that all of these units are consanguineous and form a liquid line of descent (LLOD) from …

Certain Knowledge Of Administrative Decisions Issued By Artificial Intelligence Systems In The Public Sector: A Comparative Analysis, Nayel Musa Alomran, Odai Mohammad Alheilat

All Works

This paper aims to elucidate the matter of certain knowledge pertaining to administrative decisions, those issued by artificial intelligence. It also clarifies the position of the administrative judiciary with regard to the adoption of this presumption and through a comparative analysis of administrative judicial applications in Jor-dan, Egypt, and Morocco. The text addresses the most significant evidence for achieving certain knowledge of an administrative decision – and thereby initiating the appeal period against the appellant. The question at hand is whether the administrative judiciary applies the traditional theory of certain knowledge to its counterpart issued by artificial intelligence systems, especially …

Streamlining Digital Elevation Model Construction From Historical Aerial Photographs: The Impact Of Reference Elevation Data On Spatial Accuracy, Xin Hong, Christopher H. Roosevelt

All Works

This study proposes a streamlined workflow for producing historical digital elevation models (hDEMs) from scanned 1950s aerial photographs using structure-from-motion and multi-view-stereo (SfM-MVS) techniques along with co-registration methods. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of DEM references with varying spatial resolutions on the SfM-MVS process and co-registration accuracy. The DEM references included a 30 m SRTM DEM (low resolution), a 12 m TanDEM-X DEM (medium resolution), and a 5 m DEM provided by the General Directorate of Mapping of the Ministry of National Defense, Republic of T & uuml;rkiye (high resolution). Results indicate that higher resolution …

Stream Response To A Dam Removal: Mill Creek, Davenport, Ca, Jessica J. Williamson

Master's Theses

Dams have many effects on stream morphology and ecology, including a loss of sediment supply downstream, reduced access to the entire stream for aquatic fauna, and a flooded area upstream of the dam. Dams are a hurdle for migrating organisms such as anadromous fish, which is a group of concern. An over 100-year-old dam on Mill Creek, a stream draining a coastal watershed in central California, was removed in the fall of 2021. The site is in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where endangered salmonids such as steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, have historically lived. To study the change in the stream from …

Separation And Surface Examination Of Spacecraft Cabin Particulates, Grace A. Belancik

Master's Theses

Particulate matter in the atmosphere is a known detriment to human health, but several factors affect any particulate’s particular toxicity including particle size, surface area, and chemical composition. Extensive studies have been conducted to examine particulate hazards on Earth, but in crewed spacecraft, like the International Space Station (ISS), the particulate environment is wholly unique due to both the controlled environment and lack of gravity. Atmospheric sampling studies are underway, but another convenient source of airborne particulates for analysis is the contents of the vacuum bags used by the astronauts to clean the air vents. However, no method currently exists …

Knowledge And Ontology Enhanced Approach To Natural Language Understanding (Koe-Nlu) In Computational Social Media And Healthcare, Naga Usha Gayathri Lokala

Theses and Dissertations

Natural Language Understanding (NLU) faces both opportunities and challenges as the amount of social media and healthcare data grows. This is particularly evident in context-sensitive applications such as evaluating cognitive health, identifying mental health symptoms, and monitoring drug abuse. Even though traditional NLU models work well for processing language in a wide range of areas, they often lack the ability to understand language in a specific domain, reason in context, and incorporate structured external knowledge. This dissertation talks about the Knowledge and Ontology Enhanced Approach to Natural Language Understanding (KOE-NLU), a new framework that is meant to make NLU systems …

Seismic Constraints On Long Period Moment Release In Cascadia Slow Slip Events, Jordan M. Pentzer

All Master's Theses

Non-volcanic tremor, a low-amplitude, 1-5 Hz long-duration seismic noise signal easily resolvable by short-period seismometers of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, is the canonical seismic signature observed during Cascadia Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) Events. Whether significant energy is released at periods longer than 1 Hz has not been systematically searched for but nonetheless may exist and if so, could represent both a significant portion of the Cascadia moment budget as well as a mechanism by which slow slip and regular seismicity interact. The August 2010 ETS event beneath Puget Sound was well-recorded by a wide range of instruments that …

The Relative Contribution Of Deep And Shallow Benthic Sources To Iron Supply In The Ross Sea, With Specific Emphasis On The Ross Bank, Blair J.W. Greenan, Michael S. Dinniman, Dennis J. Mcgillicuddy Jr., Peter N. Sedwick, Stefanie L. Mack, Walker O. Smith Jr.

OES Faculty Publications

Summer primary productivity in the Ross Sea is limited by the availability of dissolved iron (DFe) in the euphotic zone. Previous studies have suggested that benthic sources dominate the supply of DFe to the upper water column in the southern Ross Sea polynya. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether these benthic sources are derived from shallow banks or deeper areas of the continental shelf. Our study combines analysis of in situ observations near Ross Bank with a physical ocean model simulation in an overlapping summertime period to investigate the vertical supply of DFe. Two passive tracer dyes …

Vulnerability To Stability: Scalable Large Language Model In Queue-Based Web Service, Md Abdul Barek, Bajlur Rashid, Mostafizur Rahman, A.B.M. Kamrul Islamc Riad, Guillermo Francia, Hossain Shahriar, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are now widely used in various applications globally. However, one of their major challenges is handling high-concurrency workloads, especially under extreme conditions. When too many requests are sent simultaneously, LLMs often become unresponsive which leads to performance degradation and reduced reliability in real-world applications. To address this issue, this paper proposes a queue-based system that separates request handling from direct execution. By implementing a distributed queue, requests are processed in a structured and controlled manner, preventing system overload and ensuring stable performance. This approach …

Photoswitchable Inhibitors Of Eaat3, Karly Suhr

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Azobenzene is a photoswitchable molecule known for its high conversion yield and repeatability. The inclusion of an azobenzene moiety with a known inhibitor of your target of interest allows for greater study of function as well as potential therapies. Three derivatives were designed from azobenzene and known inhibitor of EAATs, TBOA, to synthesize photoswitchable inhibitors of EAATs. Further investigation into the function of EAATs and development of a specific inhibitor for EAAT3, an important glutamate transporter in the brain required for proper function, can then be conducted. Photoisomerization studies on the derivatives were conducted using UV/vis spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. …

Deep Convection, Lightning, And Inertio-Gravity Waves: An Analysis Of Precipitation And Wave Dynamics In The Congo Basin, Stephen L. Solimine

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The lack of an extensive in situ observation network throughout equatorial Africa makes it difficult to monitor the Congo climate system. Model and reanalysis products have been used to fill informational gaps but often produce disparate results. To improve model representation of deep convection over the Congo, it’s important to first understand the influence of various thermodynamic and dynamic forces that may be underrepresented. Although satellite based remote sensing retrievals and reanalysis have their own set of limitations, they can offer a great deal of insight into the climate of regions otherwise lacking in observational networks.

The first section of …