Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Development Of Catalytic Membranes And Composites For Energy Storage Devices And Nonenzymatic Biosensors, Harish Singh

Doctoral Dissertations

The excessive use of fossil fuels has led to their rapid depletion, causing an energy crisis and environmental issues. Consequently, there's a growing focus on sustainable energy conversion. Electrocatalysts are pivotal in this development, particularly for fuel cells and solar fuel generators, necessitating high-efficiency, cost-effective catalysts for large-scale adoption. Transition metal chalcogenides have emerged as promising electrocatalysts due to their high efficiency, electrochemical tunability, and abundant active sites. This work is divided in two parts. In Part A, we have investigated transition metal chalcogenide and few atom clusters FACs as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution and reduction, highlighting their structure-property relationships …

Shining Light On Policy: The Case For Solar Panel Mandates On New Construction Projects, Emily Glazier

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note argues that solar panel mandates on new construction projects are a necessary and sensible approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate goals, but their implementation must include provisions to protect vulnerable communities and address environmental justice concerns. While such mandates face legal and political challenges, the benefits of decreased emissions and energy independence outweigh the costs, particularly when paired with measures like community solar systems, incentives, and exemptions.

Analysis Of Climate Change In Chelyabinsk And Kurgan: Effects Of Temperature And Precipitation From 1990 To 2020 Based On Cru Data, Irina Potoroko, Ammar Kadi, Ali Subhi Alhumaima

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

This study analyzes climate patterns in the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions of Russia using high-resolution data from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) between 1990 and 2020. The research focuses on how temperature and precipitation have evolved over time and their impacts on local ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources. Using MATLAB for visualization, temperature and precipitation maps were created for January and July across five time periods to understand the spatial and temporal variations in these regions. The analysis revealed a noticeable increase in temperature, with warmer winters and hotter summers in both regions. Precipitation patterns showed a shift, with a …

Securing The Internet Of Wetland Things (Iowt) Using Machine And Deep Learning Methods: A Survey, Guma Ali, Wamusi Robert, Maad M. Mijwil, Malik Sallam, Jenan Ayad

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Wetlands are essential ecosystems that provide ecological, hydrological, and economic benefits. However, human activities and climate change are degrading their health and jeopardizing their long-term sustainability. To address these challenges, the Internet of Wetland Things (IoWT) has emerged as an innovative framework integrating advanced sensing, data collection, and communication technologies to monitor and manage wetland ecosystems. Despite its potential, the IoWT faces substantial security and privacy risks, compromising its effectiveness and hindering adoption. This survey explores integrating machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques as solutions to address the security threats, vulnerabilities, and challenges inherent in IoWT ecosystems. The …

Real-Time Sdn–Iot Integrated Framework For Intelligent Emergency Vehicle Prioritization In Smart Cities, Sura F. Ismail

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Urban traffic control has become increasingly complex with rising vehicle density, particularly in smart cities. Timely arrival of emergency vehicles is critical, yet existing systems relying on manual transmitters and sirens offer limited range and effectiveness. This paper proposes a real-time intelligent traffic management framework integrating Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and the Edge of Things (EoT)—a paradigm combining edge computing with IoT to enable low-latency processing at the network edge. The framework connects the SUMO traffic simulator and Veins vehicular network framework via TraCI, with the RYU SDN controller dynamically adjusting traffic signals and vehicle routes …

Haze-Image-Dataset: A Large-Scale Benchmark For Image Dehazing In Variable Fog And Low-Light Conditions, Mustafa J. Shahbaz, Ali A.D. Al-Zuky

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

To enhance image dehazing and visual recognition in real-world conditions, we introduce HAZE-IMAGE-DATASET, a large-scale dataset comprising nearly 42,000 images. It is constructed from 1,532 clean images sourced globally and captured using a Samsung smartphone, covering diverse natural and urban scenes. The dataset includes synthetic and real haze variations. Synthetic haze was generated using MATLAB-based atmospheric scattering models with depth maps for 10 fog levels. Colored haze was created using alpha blending (α = 0.4) in six colors: red, green, blue, yellow, white, and black. Low-light conditions were simulated via uniform darkening at 10 levels. Also, 616 real haze images …

Agentic Ai-Enhanced Virtual Reality For Adaptive Immersive Learning Environments, Indra Kishor, Udit Mamodiya, Mohammed Almaayah, Amer Alqutaish, Rami Shehab, Theyazn H. H. Aldhyani

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Immersive learning using Virtual Reality (VR) has gained prominence for delivering experiential, engaging education. However, most VR learning environments lack real-time adaptability, personalization, and cognitive responsiveness. This study presents an Agentic AI-enabled VR framework that autonomously adjusts pedagogical content, interaction style, and challenge level based on learner behavior, emotions, and performance feedback. The proposed system integrates a reinforcement learning-based agent with a virtual reality module to form an intelligent tutor capable of independent decision-making. A neuro-symbolic model processes multi-modal feedback (gesture, speech, gaze, performance) to determine context-aware pedagogical strategies. The system employs a self-evolving curriculum logic that adapts in real …

Early Entering Research And Writing (Eerw) In College-Level Statistics, Rebecca Fang

2025 Faculty Bibliography

With the high demand for data-driven knowledge, students today need to comprehend skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. However, in traditional statistics lectures, students learn descriptive algorithms, hypothesis, and linear regression at their early stage of college. Unfortunately, they often analyze numbers without considering the context, purpose, audience, and the meaning of the numbers. Therefore, providing students the early opportunity to research and write with data in college will allow them to deepen their understanding of the subjects, to think critically about the data and the results, to communicate effectively with diverse audience, and to prepare for their …

Repositioning Traditional Authority To Fight Illegal Gold Mining In Dunkwa-Offin In The Upper Denkyira East Municipal District Of The Central Region Of Ghana, Manaseh Mawufemor Mintah

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Ghana is endowed with valuable mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, and manganese. However, the country has struggled to manage these resources in a way that benefits the broader population. Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has become a persistent national concern. This practice involves the unauthorized extraction of mineral ore by individuals and groups operating without formal government authorization. The town of Dunkwa-Offin exemplifies the severe social and ecological consequences of galamsey, where livelihoods, public health, and environmental sustainability are increasingly compromised. This study examines the potential role of traditional authorities in Dunkwa-Offin in combating illegal small-scale mining, also …

Mapping Kirtland’S Warbler (Setophaga Kirtlandii) Stationary Non-Breeding Habitat: Characterizing Land Cover Within The South-Central Bahamas And Evaluating The Impacts Of Sea Level Rise, Cole Anthony Scrivner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Understanding the spatial distribution of current and future habitat for the Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) and other threatened species is critical for guiding conservation planning in The Bahamas. Our study mapped land cover and impacts of sea level rise across the south-central Bahamian islands, as an initial step to determine suitable areas for Kirtland’s Warblers in the region. We used a Random Forest (RF) classification of multispectral satellite image bands and indices from Landsat and Sentinel-2 image composites to predict land cover. The classification identified tropical dry forest communities (broadleaved, semi-evergreen trees and shrubs known as coppice) as …

Complexity, Polycentricity, And Climate Change: An Embedded, Multi-Level Case Study Of A Climate Meta-Network, Timothy Staub

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The earth is in crisis, and without urgent, systemic, and collective global action to address the emerging threat of climate change, we will continue to see catastrophic events impacting humanity, threatening our very survival in many regions of the world. Temperatures will rise, ice shelves will melt, seas will rise, crops will fail, water scarcity from drought and new weather patterns will increase and spread, wildfires will accelerate, and food and water insecurity, violence, and the largest human migration in history will ensue. These climate crises will displace over 1.2 billion people by 2050 at a rate currently exceeding 21.5 …

Sulfate Sources In Groundwater From An Agricultural Area Central Illinois, Christabel I. Obi

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing sulfate (SO₄^2-) concentrations in the water environment, corresponding with increases in urbanization and industrialization, are a rising global concern. Over 250 mg/L, sulfate threatens human health and ecosystems. Elevated concentrations influence carbonate rock weathering, contributing to the evolution of the global carbon cycle. Knowledge of sulfate sources, whether natural or anthropogenic, is essential for understanding sulfate transport and fate in groundwater. This study investigates SO₄^2- origin and transport in groundwater in an area dominated by agricultural land use in Mclean County, Illinois. Specifically, we explored these questions: 1) Do sulfate concentrations change with groundwater …

A Bounded Custom Gpt Structures Operational Knowledge For Small-Industry Decision Support, Ikhwan Arief, Alizar Hasan, Nilda Tri Putri, Hafiz Rahmann

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Small manufacturing and craft-based firms increasingly use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) through public chat interfaces, low-cost tools, and informal experimentation. However, these firms often make operational decisions with incomplete records, tacit owner knowledge, fragmented spreadsheets, and limited managerial capacity. Under such conditions, open-ended chatbots may generate fluent but unsafe recommendations by overlooking missing information, contradictory evidence, feasibility constraints, and implementation constraints. This study presents Asisten Cerdas Industri Kecil as a bounded Custom GPT artifact for operational diagnosis, priority selection, and short-horizon action planning in small industries. Using a Design Science Research approach, the study develops a documented artifact corpus comprising …

Simulations Of Electron Detection Systematic Errors For A Ucna+ Experiment, Rashika Gupta

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry+ (UCNA+) experiment at the Los Alamos Neu- tron Science Center (LANSCE) Ultracold Neutron source is an upgrade of the UCNA experiment, designed to measure the neutron beta decay asymmetry parameter, A 0 , with a precision of less than 0.2% using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). Neutron beta decay is governed by the weak interaction, and a precise measurement of A 0 provides a determination of the axial-vector to vector coupling ratio, λ = gA /gV . When combined with a measurement of the neutron lifetime, this allows the extraction of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix element Vud …

Optimizing External Radioactive Calibration Source Strength To Maximize The Livetime Of The Nexo Detector, Thakur P. Bhatta

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The proposed next Enriched Xenon Observatory (nEXO) experiment aims to detect neutrinoless double beta decay in 136Xe, a rare process with profound implications for particle physics and our understanding of the neutrino. Achieving the required sensitivity demands ultra-low background conditions, making both material radiop urity screening and precise detector calibration essential. This dissertation addresses two key calibration challenges in preparation for nEXO. First, I investigated discrepancies in calibration efficiency measurements of the high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector named as GeIV located 4850 feet under ground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, Lead, SD. The root cause for the discrepancy was found …

Precision Measurement Of The Muon’ S Anomalous Precession Frequency Using Energy Integrated Analysis In The Fermilab Muon G- 2 Experiment, Joseph Peck

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

This dissertation investigates the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, aµ, through the Fermilab Muon g -2 Experiment, which aims to measure aµ to a precision of about 140 parts-per-billion.

Muons were injected into a magnetic storage ring where their decay positrons were detected by calorimeters. The changing spin and momentum orientation leads to an oscillation in decay positron counts, known as the anomalous precession frequency ! a. Using the magnetic field and !a measurements, we can determine the value of a µ. This study focuses on the Q-Method determination of !a, which utilizes an energyintegrated reconstruction rather than high-energy …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Thermal And Non-Thermal Mechanisms In Galaxy Clusters, Sheng-Chieh Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Galaxy clusters form at the intersections of the cosmic web and carry imprints of the structure formation history of the universe. As massive, multi-component systems, they offer unique insights into the astrophysical processes that govern both structure formation and galaxy evolution. Observable across the full electromagnetic spectrum, clusters emit photons through a variety of mechanisms, each tracing different physical processes. This dissertation investigates both the thermodynamic and non-thermal properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) to better understand the physical processes shaping observed phenomena. It comprises three main studies, each targeting a different aspect of galaxy cluster physics. In the second …

Structural And Physical Properties Of Solid State Materials: Cegage, Cssni3, And Yb2Si2-XGeXAl, Liam J. Scanlon

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

We present studies of three independent solid state materials: CeGaGe, CsSnI₃, and Yb₂Si_2-xGe_xAl.

CeGaGe is a magnetic candidate Weyl semimetal. Magnetic Weyl semimetals have possible technological applications due to their electronically conducting bulk states, magnetic states, and topologically protected surface states. We grew single crystals of CeGaGe using the zone-refinement method and flux-growth method. With single crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction, we found that zone-refined CeGaGe crystallizes with the I4₁md symmetry (space group 109). With single crystal X-ray diffraction, we found that flux-grown samples of CeGaGe have the …

New Jersey's Mitigation And Adaptation To Climate Change: An Economic Analysis Of The State's Societal Benefits Charge And Community Solar Energy Program, Nicole S. Provost

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Understanding the current trajectory of New Jersey’s emissions and the existing legislation and programs implemented to help reduce emissions, it is evident that the State requires further actions to spur heightened emission reductions to reach its goals. One known impactful policy that could significantly accelerate this process is a carbon tax, which applies to emission-intensive goods. Although this policy does not currently exist in New Jersey, the State has a Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) that applies an approximate 3% charge to electricity and gas consumption on residential and commercial utility customers’ monthly energy bills, where revenues fund programs that offer …

Group And State-Specific Estimation In Animal Movement Models Using A Bayesian Approach, Anita Bhandari Sharma

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research study investigates statistical approaches for modeling the movement patterns of white-tailed deer in Louisiana using GPS tracking data. We start by classifying the latent behavioral states using a hidden Markov model (HMM) and then integrate those inferred states into a state-dependent step selection framework to evaluate the land cover preferences. Standard HMMs, however, assume the same movement patterns for all animals, overlooking the differences due to characteristics such as sex, age, breeding season, etc.

To address this limitation, we extend the modeling framework to incorporate the group-level structure defined by similar characteristics or conditions to assess whether such …

Efficacy Of Stress Acclimation Techniques In Coastal Wetland Plants (Spartina Alterniflora And S. Patens): Implications For Restoration And Nursery Production, Taylor M. Sloey, Kylie D. Gieser, Kaitlyn Pounders, Sofía E. Báez, Jennifer L. Whytlaw

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The implementation of coastal nature-based features, created wetlands, and wetland restoration has increased globally over recent years. Many of these projects have been successful in meeting their goals, however, when projects fail, it is often attributed to mortality of transplanted vegetation. Transplant mortality may be due to inappropriate timing, poor site selection, or abiotic stressors associated with transplant shock. Science-backed guidelines have been well established in many coastal regions regarding site specifications and species selection, but nursery practices for reducing transplant shock remain inconsistent. In this study, we tested a combination of four salinity acclimation treatments and two inundation acclimation …

Symbiodiniaceae Shifts Over The Last Decade On The Hottest Coral Reefs On Earth, Anna Fiesinger, Rachel Alderdice, Luigi Colin, Hannah Manns, Gabriela Perna, Kathryn H. Stankiewicz, Jacob J. Valenzuela, Line K. Bay, Daniel J. Barshis, Nitin S. Baliga, Iliana B. Baums, John A. Burt, Christian R. Voolstra

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG) are resilient to various stressors, whose levels exceed those of coral reefs globally. These corals thereby offer insight into mechanisms underlying thermal resilience, e.g., regarding the role of endosymbiotic microalgae in the family Symbiodiniaceae. Previous studies have identified the thermotolerant species Cladocopium thermophilum as broadly associated with corals in the southern PAG. However, algal-host specificity at the within-species level and the temporal stability of these associations are not well understood. Here we sampled two dominant stony corals (Porites harrisoni, n = 119 and Platygyra daedalea, n = 79) at three sites …

Heterotrophy Of Particulate Organic Matter Subsidies Contributes To Divergent Bleaching Responses In Tropical Sclaractinian Corals, Connor R. Love, Kelly E. Speare, Michael D. Fox, Veronica Z. Radice, Kelton W. Mcmahon, Gretchen E. Hofmann,, David L. Valentine, Marie E. Strader

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Heterotrophic feeding on plankton and particulate organic matter (POM) by tropical Scleractinian corals is known to aid in the resistance and recovery from thermally induced bleaching. However, the relative importance of heterotrophy in promoting bleaching resistance and recovery is likely to vary based on ecological context and the severity of heat stress. In 2019, the Pacific Island of Mo'orea experienced mass coral mortality during a widespread marine heatwave. Many Acropora hyacinthus colonies on the shallow reef slope (5 m) were resistant to bleaching, while colonies on the deeper fore reef (14 m) often bleached and subsequently recovered, despite similar thermal …

Training Set Augmentation And Harmonization Enables Radiomic Models To Detect Early Onset Of Lung Cancer, Claire Huchthausen, Menglin Shi, Gabriel L.A. Sousa, James Larner, Einsley Janowski, Jonathan Colen, Krishni Wijesooriya

Data Science Faculty Publications

Radiomics-based machine learning models have the potential to detect lung cancer at inception from CT scans and transform patient outcomes. Low malignancy rates in early-development pulmonary nodules (PNs) and variable image acquisition hinder development of clinically applicable radiomics-based early detection models. To address these challenges, we augmented training using later-development PNs and harmonized for acquisition effects. We first trained machine learning models to predict PN malignancy using radiomic features from scans of early-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 187) harmonized using ComBat. Observing near-chance performance, we augmented training with later-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 225). We evaluated …

Generalizations Of Some Q-Product Identities Of Ramanujan And Others, Timothy J. Huber, James Mclaughlin, Dongxi Ye

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

By considering certain limiting cases of a WP-Bailey chain discovered by Andrews, and also limiting cases of certain classical summation formulae for basic hypergeometric series, we derive new expressions for certain Lambert series in terms of basic hypergeometric series. In some cases, the resulting series involve an arbitrary Bailey pair. This allows for the derivation of new basic hypergeometric expansions for some q-products and series that Ramanujan expressed in terms of Lambert series. Some of Ramanujan’s identities are extended to more general relations containing one or more free parameters.

The Great Scrape: The Clash Between Scraping And Privacy, Daniel J. Solove, Woodrow Hartzog

Faculty Scholarship

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems depend on massive quantities of data, often gathered by “scraping”—the automated extraction of large amounts of data from the internet. A great deal of scraped data contains people’s personal information. This personal data provides the grist for AI tools such as facial recognition, deep fakes, and generative AI. Although scraping enables web searching, archiving of records, and meaningful scientific research, scraping for AI can also be objectionable and even harmful to individuals and society.

Organizations are scraping at an escalating pace and scale, even though many privacy laws are seemingly incongruous with the practice. In this …