Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Do Themes Improve Visitor Outcomes In Interpretive Programs?, Amber K. Hawes

All Theses

Thematic interpretation is widely promoted as being integral to an effective interpretive program. Some studies have suggested that thematic interpretation may enhance visitor outcomes; however, park visitor demographics have changed over the last decade, and others have suggested alternative approaches. In this study, we systematically observed live interpretive programs at 330 programs at 52 National Parks across the United States, monitored the extent and characteristics of theme usage, and collected visitor surveys immediately following each program. We used these data to determine the influence of the presence and characteristics of themes and theme questions on visitor outcomes. The results suggest …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Cultivation Of Lettuce In A Hydroponic System Using The Nutrient Film Technique, Raquel Jordan

All Theses

Hydroponic systems are an emerging method of soilless crop cultivation typically done inside a greenhouse where nutrients are delivered dissolved in water rather than being supplied from the soil. Potential benefits of hydroponic systems include reduced irrigation requirements, higher crop yield per area, and the ability to grow crops year-round in nontraditional areas such as urban settings, cold climates, and sites with contaminated soil. However, hydroponic systems tend to have high energy requirements for lighting and climate control, which can yield significant environmental impacts. To explore the environmental impacts of cultivating lettuce in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system, …

Small Stream Restoration In The Piedmont Of South Carolina: Comparison Of Evaluation Tools And Water Quality’S Effects On Salamanders, Camryn Lachica

All Theses

For many years, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) used the Guidelines for Preparing a Compensatory Mitigation Plan worksheets to guide pre-restoration evaluation and determine post-restoration mitigation credits in South Carolina. Recently, the USACE in South Carolina transitioned to the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT), which provides a more comprehensive assessment framework. Our first objective was to compare these assessment methodologies across different landscape types to determine what the SQT adds to mitigation calculations that were not considered in prior worksheets. We evaluated 16 streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with four replicates each of forested, suburban, urban, …

Certified Computation Of Julia Sets Via Numerical Methods, Hannah Kaufman

All Theses

The chaotic and fractal nature of Julia sets makes them difficult to graph. This research aims to provide graphical approximations of Julia sets with known and guaranteed levels of accuracy. We implement three methods to approximate Julia sets with c values chosen from the main cardioid of the Mandelbrot set. Each method utilizes different properties of these Julia sets. The exclusion method makes use of the fact that a Julia set of this type is topologically a circle. Attracting and repelling fixed points are used to find a region on the interior of the Julia set and a region on …

Heat Storage Using High Temperature Borehole Heat Exchangers, Jack Horvath

All Theses

The use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is growing, and with it comes an increased need to store excess energy when it is generated and release it on demand. Moderate temperature thermal energy storage in the subsurface is widely used to heat buildings, but high temperatures, greater than 120℃, are required to power generators that convert stored heat to electricity. High temperature heat can be generated from solar collectors or other means and then transferred to the subsurface using borehole heat exchangers (BHE). A BHE consists of a closed-loop pipe system used to circulate a …

Revised Draft Final Butte Treatment Lagoons (Btl) Groundwater Treatment System Routine Operations, Maintenance, And Monitoring (Om&M) Plan, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

On The Garoufalidis-Kashaev State-Integral Invariant, Amelia Palmer Dusenbury

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores a construction of the family of topological invariants for certain oriented 3-manifolds based on the state-integral approach developed by Andersen, Garoufalidis, and Kashaev in the Archimedean setting. Starting from an ideal triangulation of a 3-manifold equipped with angle data, variables are assigned to the faces and tetrahedra, taking values in a so-called 'Gaussian group'. The invariant is defined by integrating a distribution defined from the combinatorics of the triangulation and a special function over a product of the Gaussian group. The special function is a quantum dilogarithm, whose valuable feature, the pentagon relation, ensures the resulting integral …

Insights Into The Radiation Chemistry Of Flash Radiation Therapy, Alan E. Lopez Hernandez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Purpose: FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH-RT) is an emerging modality that delivers radiation at ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) and has shown consistent normal tissue sparing while preserving tumor control compared to conventional RT—a phenomenon termed the FLASH effect. Despite promising results, the mechanisms behind the FLASH effect remain unclear. Many hypotheses point to radiolytic interactions, but experimental validation is limited. This work aims to develop a robust experimental platform to evaluate the relationship between radiolytic species production and physical beam parameters relevant to FLASH-RT, alongside dosimetry tools for reliable UHDR beam characterization.

Methods: A beam collector (BC) Faraday cup detector was …

Facilitating The Clinical Translation Of Flash Radiotherapy Through Dosimetry Development And Beam Parameter Optimization, Kevin Liu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Advisory Professor: Emil Schüler, PhD

Radiation therapy (RT) is a crucial component of curative cancer therapy, with a majority of cancer patients in the United States receiving RT as part of treatment. The goal of RT is to maximize the therapeutic index in curing disease while minimizing any associated normal-tissue complications¹. Recently, ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) RT (mean dose rates ≥40 Gy/s for a total duration of ≤200 ms) has been reported to selectively spare normal tissues and organs while maintaining an isoeffective tumoricidal effect compared to conventional (CONV) dose rate RT in a variety of in vivo preclinical …

Drug Delivery, Disulfide Crosslinked Hydrogel Coating For Polydimethylsiloxane (Pdms) Implant Materials, Paul A. Contos, Paul Anthony Contos

Master's Theses

Though polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is often used in medical devices due to its desirable mechanical properties and biocompatibility, its surface is often prone to bacterial adhesion. This is especially a problem for catheters, where bacteria can adhere and form biofilms that can in turn result in Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). In order to deter the presence of UTI causing bacteria on PDMS catheters, methods were developed to formulate a disulfide crosslinked hydrogel coating and create a methodology to allow adhesion to a PDMS substrate. The hydrogel coating discussed in this paper will be synthesized by chemically crosslinking stimuli-responsive vesicles, that carry …

Revolutionizing Digital Privacy Education For Older Adults: Enhanced Interventions And Ai-Assisted Learning Strategies, Heba Aly

All Dissertations

As older adults increasingly engage with digital platforms, they face unique privacy risks stemming from limited digital literacy, reduced trust in AI technologies, and constrained access—especially in rural or underserved communities. While digital tools offer benefits like social connection and information access, current privacy education efforts often neglect the needs of older adults. This dissertation addresses this gap by developing, testing, and refining digital privacy education interventions tailored for older adults, with a focus on trust, personalization, and AI-assisted learning.

Study 1 evaluates multiple instructional modalities across age groups, revealing older adults prefer structured videos and interactive tutorials, while younger …

A Study On The Propagation And Exploitation Of Structured Light In Underwater Turbulence, Jaxon P. Wiley

All Dissertations

The development and optimization of optical systems will play a pivotal role in the continued exploration and exploitation of the world’s underwater environments. These systems offer advantages in many sectors, and includes applications in areas such as high-speed communication, advanced sensing and imaging, and environmental characterization and monitoring. Underwater environments offer a plethora of challenges, however, and mitigating these obstacles remains an arduous task. In this work, the inherent advantages of structured light are leveraged to optimize optical system performance through non-ideal underwater conditions. Additionally, fundamental relationships between the generation of specified structured modes and their interactions with complex environments …

Influence Of Experience And Risk With Natural Hazards On Geoscience Interest And Career Expectations, Shannon Conner

All Dissertations

Understanding student interest in geoscience is important, as it has the potential to inform departmental decisions such as the selection of classroom examples and marketing strategies to attract new geoscience majors. Recruitment to geoscience is critical to address future social and environmental challenges. Our work may also provide insight into how to approach persistent recruitment problems within departments, such as student enrollment and the lack of diversity within the geosciences. This work involves developing a geoscience interest scale, integrating geospatial and educational data sets related to hazard risk and interest, and an exploring career motivations as related to natural hazard …

Melts To Solutions: Structure, Dynamics, And Response Of Polyelectrolytes, Shalika Meedin

All Dissertations

The current research elucidates the changes in the structure and motion of polyelectrolytes as they are perturbed by solvents and shear flows. Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules whose backbone consists of long, predominantly hydrocarbon chains, substituted by ionizable groups, which tend to dissociate into ions in polar solvents. Their properties result from a delicate balance of elastic energy that arises from the polymeric backbone and electrostatic forces, which stem from the ionizable groups. Though polyelectrolytes have an immense potential to propel numerous technologies, from clean energy to drug delivery systems, understanding the delicate balance between the properties of the polymer backbone and …

Accurate Temporal Integration Schemes For Nonlinear Adsorption Problems, Evan D. Butterworth

All Dissertations

We consider a nonlinear transport problem to model the chromatography process of high-capacity multimodal membranes. Robust and efficient algorithms that simulate these bioseparation processes are critical to developing therapeutics for various chronic illnesses and infectious diseases. However, much of the current methodology focuses on stabilization and linearization techniques, often implementing low-order time-discretizations and linearized adsorption, resulting in inefficiencies and inaccuracies in the numerical solution. Utilizing Rothe's method, we develop various time-discretization schemes coupled with the finite element method to solve the fully implicit problems. Stability and solvability results are presented for several methods. Through multiple high-level software implementations paired with …

Towards Securing Ai Systems: Investigating Threats In Multimodal Autonomous Driving & Rag Systems, Saket Sanjeev Chaturvedi

All Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have become central to high-stakes applications such as autonomous driving and language-based decision support. As their deployment accelerates, ensuring the security and trustworthiness of these systems becomes paramount. Among the most stealthy and potent threats are backdoor attacks, where models behave as expected under normal conditions but exhibit malicious behavior when triggered by specific inputs, either digital or physical.

This thesis investigates novel backdoor and adversarial vulnerabilities across two emerging classes of AI architectures: (1) multimodal 3D object detection systems that fuse LiDAR and camera data, and (2) Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems that pair large language …

Constructing Code-Based Zero-Knowledge Proofs Leveraging Generic Errors And Bounded Vectors, Freeman Slaughter

All Dissertations

Quantum computing is developing at an expeditious rate, and once fully scalable quantum computers become realized, classical cryptographic systems face obsolescence. This approaching peril has prompted a paradigm shift away from pre-quantum cryptography and towards post-quantum primitives, such as those that arise from the field of coding theory. Among these, zero-knowledge proofs have emerged as a dynamic tool instrumental in constructing quantum-resilient digital signature schemes.

We being by introducing HammR, a pre-quantum zero-knowledge proof protocol designed to verify Hamming weight and entry constraints of error vectors, and comprehensively establish its security. Subsequently, we extend HammR to the multi-party computation setting, …

Online Multiobjective Optimization, Kristen Joyce

All Dissertations

Online optimization (OO) is an iterative process of decision making under uncertainty. At every step, a decision is made before the outcome of this decision is known. For the online optimization model, the objective function is unknown at the time the decision is being made. It is very likely that the taken decision is not optimal, so the decision maker incurs a loss, called regret, in every iteration. The goal of the online optimization algorithm is to compute a decision at every step so that the overall regret cost is minimized. In particular, the average regret produced by an ideal …

Direct Photopatterning Of Quantum Dots Via Thiol-Yne Click Chemistry, Nicholas Langer, Ofer Kedem

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Functional nanomaterials are revolutionizing electronic devices such as displays and photovoltaics, yet existing semiconductor manufacturing methods struggle to adapt to the unique properties of nanoparticles. In particular, quantum dots (QDs) display density-dependent properties such as tunable energy transfer, yet current preferred methods of producing QD patterns lack control over the density of QDs deposited in specific locations on a surface. Here, we present a photochemical method to generate QD patterns directly from solution onto a functionalized surface, which enables density control. The overall dose of light used in the pattern (visible or UV) determines the surface density of deposited QDs …

Enhancing The Value Of Satellite Earth Observations For Coastal Management: Tools For Collaboration And Co-Development, Nicole Dejeet Bartlett

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Despite unprecedented satellite Earth observation (EO) capabilities and free data availability, widespread adoption in coastal management remains limited due to persistent communication barriers between satellite experts and coastal practitioners. This dissertation addresses the fundamental challenge of translating satellite EO technical capabilities into management-relevant applications. Through synthesis of literature, stakeholder interviews, and two multi-year co-development case studies in Virginia's Middle Peninsula and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, this research identifies systematic barriers to satellite EO adoption and develops innovative frameworks for overcoming them.

The work argues for a common language between satellite product developers and coastal managers, identifying communication barriers spanning technical, institutional, …

Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes As A Light Source For Photodynamic Therapy, Hamid El Hamidi

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT:

QUANTUM DOT LIGHT EMITTING DIODES AS A LIGHT SOURCE FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Photodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment modality that involves the accumulation of a photosensitizer, exposure to visible light, and the presence of oxygen, resulting in the formation of highly reactive and cytotoxic singlet oxygen. PDT has been shown to be more effective as the fluence rate decreases due to oxygen availability and the absence of photobleaching. On the other hand, Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes QLEDs- a new form of light source based on nanoparticles (quantum dots)- emerge as a potentially advantageous light source for certain types …

Out-Of-Band Anomaly Detection For Real Time Operating Systems, Jeffrey K. Holifield

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) are increasing present throughout the industrial, business, defense, and healthcare spaces. These lightweight and efficient operating systems are designed to run on embedded, resource constrained devices, often within cyber-physical systems (CPS). A defining characteristic ofRTOSs is that they are deterministic. Tasks are scheduled to run on fixed timelines within guaranteed execution windows. In Industry 4.0 applications for example, sensors must receive and process inputs within a fixed schedule to ensure products are properly manufactured. This requires guaranteed service at fixed time periods. To accomplish this, RTOSs must conform to worst case execution times (WCETs) as …

Yizhi Sun: Profile Of The Newest Chbc Faculty Member., Danna Jaimes-Fajardo, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

Presents the research profile of Yizhi Sun, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry department. It highlights his research interests, education, and impact of his research.

Effective Transformer Networks For Undersampled Magnetic Resonance Image Reconstruction, Tahsin Rahman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of data-driven tools for solving problems in every possible domain, coupled with rapid advances in computing technology, has led to an arms race of AI development and application research in industry and academia. One field of research that stands to gain immeasurably from this revolution is medical imaging. It is a critical part of modern diagnostics, and advancements in this area can directly benefit the average person by making healthcare more accessible, accurate, and affordable. Breakthroughs in mainstream image processing and computer vision have long fueled development in medical imaging, and it is now common to see cutting …

Experimental Investigation Of Photovoltaic Soiling Losses And Aerosol Absorption And Scattering Related To Dust In The Chihuahuan Desert Region, German Rodriguez Ortiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the interaction between mineral dust and solar radiation in the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the dustiest areas in North America. I focused on two main aspects: (1) the characterization of atmospheric aerosol optical properties during dust events, and (2) the effects of dust deposition (soiling) on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules. I characterized the intrinsic optical properties of aerosols in El Paso, Texas during the peak of the 2021 dust season. Ground-level, high-resolution optical and meteorological data were collected at the Black and Brown Carbon (BC^2) study site, whereas particulate matter and additional meteorological parameters were …

A Multi-Modal Method For Synthetic Data Generation In Social Network Analysis, Hortencia Josefina Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Social network analysis (SNA) research is often rife with data collection pitfalls, frequently leading to incomplete and missing data. With the growing use of SNA-based research, researchers must address the challenge of missing data and synthetic data generation in these settings. Missing data occurs due to longitudinal non-response or lack of response to sensitive or difficult-to-answer questions. Synthetic data generation in SNA settings addresses the lack of representation that is often present in large-scale SNA studies. This dissertation investigates synthetic data generation methods to address these challenges and develops a novel algorithm that leverages information from multi-modal data, e.g., databases …

Study On Self-Interaction Errors In Molecular Properties And Magnetic Behaviour Of 2d Materials Under External Stimuli Using Density Functional Theory, Prakash Mishra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Density Functional Theory (DFT) has established itself as a practical and versatile method for efficiently studying the properties of materials of solids and molecules. Despite being exact in principle, in practice, DFT calculations rely on an approximation for the exchange-correlation energy functional of the electron density. This results in an erroneous interaction of the electron with itself, known as the self-interaction error (SIE). It arises from the fact that the exchange self-interaction does not exactly cancel out the Coulomb self-interaction. Due to this error, the approximate one-electron potential decays exponentially in the asymptotic region rather than exhibiting the correct ?1 …

High-Frequency Seismic Noise In Desert Environments, Alexis Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the generation and modulation of ambient seismic noise in arid environments, with a focus on aeolian processes such as saltation, wind shear, and precipitation events. Using a dense array of three-component seismic nodes co-located with meteorological sensors and a novel particle transport instrument (SANTRI), high-frequency seismic signatures were examined within the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. Time-frequency analysis reveals that wind-driven saltation events produce measurable seismic energy enhancements, particularly within the 100-300 Hz band, with clear spectral distinctions between wind-only forcing and particle-laden transport. Additionally, rainfall events were identified by elevated seismic amplitudes in the …

Temporal Partitioning And Coexistence Among Four Sympatric Felid Species In The Northern Jaguar Reserve, Kylie Marie Rezendes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Coexistence among sympatric carnivores is shaped by behavioral strategies that mediate competition and mortality risk in heterogeneous landscapes. Understanding how sympatric carnivores, such as felids, use space and time in relation to one another requires models that account for both spatial and temporal overlap across landscapes. Models incorporating time-to-event probabilities provide a powerful framework for detecting behavioral dynamics across shared landscapes. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal responses of two apex predators â?? the jaguar (Panthera onca) and mountain lion (Puma concolor) - and two mesopredators - bobcat (Lynx rufus) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) - across five years of camera trap …

Diagenesis And Controls On Porosity And Permeability In The Upper San Andres Formation Of West Texas, Jack Butcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

West Texas reservoirs on the Central Basin Platform (CBP) are dominated by Permian-age carbonate deposits, significantly contributing to petroleum production. The Upper Permian-aged San Andres Formation, composed primarily of dolomite and limestone, is a prolific reservoir. This study assesses diagenetic influences on porosity and permeability within the San Andres Formation along the northern CBP. Two cores from the Monument 4-2 and Peterson 1 wells in West Texas were analyzed using core descriptions, thin section petrography, XRD, XRF, and MICP. Results indicate that dolomitization enhances porosity, with intercrystalline and moldic porosity being dominant, while late-stage cementation and compaction reduce permeability. XRD …