Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Fact-Based Counter Narrative Generation To Combat Hate Speech, Brian Wilk, Homaira Huda Shomee, Suman Kalyan Maity, Sourav Medya

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Online hatred has become an increasingly pervasive issue, affecting individuals and communities across various digital platforms. To combat hate speech in such platforms, counter narratives (CNs) are regarded as an effective method. In recent years, there has been growing interest in using generative AI tools to construct CNs. However, most of the generative models produce generic responses to hate speech and can hallucinate, reducing their effectiveness. To address the above limitations, we propose a counter narrative generation method that enhances CNs by providing non-aggressive, fact-based narratives with relevant background knowledge from two distinct sources, including a web search module. Furthermore, …

The Attitudes And Perspectives Of Laboratory Professionals On The Use Of Machine Learning Combined With Maldi For Viral Identification: A Qualitative Study, Grace Johnson

Honors Projects

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with machine learning (ML) has been proposed by numerous studies as a novel approach for viral identification. However, the development and implementation of this instrumentation is still in its early stages, and laboratory professionals' perspectives on its feasibility, accuracy, implementation, and effect on current laboratory operating procedures remain underexplored.

This study aimed to investigate laboratory professionals’ attitudes and opinions regarding the use of MALDI-TOF-MS coupled with machine learning for viral identification, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers, and factors that would affect participants’ opinions on implementation.

A qualitative descriptive research …

The Oaks Vs. Other University Dining Facilities: Does Architecture Affect Food Waste?, Sydney Bezich

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to find a connection between food waste and architecture and determine how food waste can be mitigated using architectural solutions and methods. Food waste is an important issue worldwide and is present in university dining facilities. This study focuses on university dining facilities’ preventable food waste at both the pre-consumer and post-consumer levels. Architecture, in this project, is defined as all aspects of the built environment. This includes, but is not limited to, design and layout, materials, systems, building operations, marketing displays, and sustainability. Methods for this study included researching sustainability, architecture, and food …

Rewriting War: Improving The Mlb’S Go-To Advanced Metric, Kolin Atwood

Honors Projects

Traditional Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metrics have long served as a cornerstone of player evaluation in Major League Baseball, offering a context-neutral summary of offensive, defensive, and baserunning contributions. However, this neutrality often overlooks critical factors such as game situation, lineup strength, and advanced baserunning impact. This project proposes an enhanced model, WAR-PC (Wins Above Replacement – Plus Context), that integrates three key improvements: context-dependent batting value (RE24), clutch performance (Win Probability Added, WPA), and Statcast-based baserunning metrics. Using R, player logs, and modern baseball data sources, WAR-PC was calculated for eight players from the 2023 MLB season. The revised …

Simultaneous Observations Of Irregular Sporadic E Structures Using The Lwa And A Dps4d, Kenneth S. Obenberger, C. A. Taylor, Jonah J. Colman, Eugene Dao, J. Dowell, J. D. Eccles, Daniel J. Emmons, C. T. Fallen, J. M. Holmes, G. B. Taylor

Faculty Publications

Multi-instrument studies have recently shed new light on the morphology of sporadic E, especially intense sporadic E. Here we present simultaneous observations of dense sporadic E (E_s) structures using the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) radio telescopes and a Digisonde Portable Sounder 4D (DPS4D). Our coordinated observations show that the LWA radio telescopes in central New Mexico can reliably locate regions of dense Es structures as they pass over a Digisonde located over 500 km away in Texas. The LWA appears to be most sensitive to the densest E_s structures, which also appear to contain irregularities with vertical …

Assessing The Potential For A Novel Composite Integrative Passive Sampler (Cips) To Investigate Transboundary Movement Of Organic Chemicals In The Tijuana River Estuary., Zuying Feng, Flannery Mclamb, Damian Shea, Kesten Bozinovic, Chris Stransky, Richard M. Gersberg, Wenling Wang, Xiang Kong, Xin-Rui Xia, Miguel F. Vasquez, Mackenzie King, Goran Bozinovic

Center for Life in Extreme Environments Publications

Nearly all environmental monitoring and research of chemical exposure in the aquatic environment relies on grab sampling of water and/or sediment providing only a snapshot in time. Passive sampling of water provides a more representative estimate of exposure compared to grab sampling, but current passive samplers have a limited working range of chemical properties. We tested a novel Composite Integrative Passive Sampler (CIPS) that simultaneously accumulates both hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemicals in water in the Tijuana River Estuary (TRE) on the U.S.-Mexico border. Quantitative targeted analysis detected 169 of the 193 targeted chemicals, and 128 of them were detected in …

From Clusters To Frameworks: Synthesis, Engineering, And Application Of Sub-2-Nanometer Nanoclusters And Microporous Covalent Organic Frameworks, Melika E Kenari

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we have investigated the complex interplay of atomic composition, structural modifications in covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and atomic-level designs in bimetallic chiral nanoclusters (NCs). By synthesizing COFs and bimetallic NCs, we elucidated how these elements govern their exceptional catalytic, optical, and electronic properties. Our work demonstrates that precise atomic adjustments, tailored pore engineering in COFs, and the strategic use of chiral ligands in NCs enable fine-tuned reactivity and stability. These advancements were applied to enhance photocatalytic performance, optimize iodine adsorption, and facilitate asymmetric A3 coupling reactions, laying a robust foundation for practical applications and future innovations in …

Cascading Effects: Analyzing Project Failure Impact In The Maven Central Ecosystem, Mina Shehata

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Abstract—This study examines failure propagation patterns within the Maven Central ecosystem, a critical software de- pendency repository, through comprehensive analysis of dependency networks using the Goblin framework. Our dual-sampling methodology, investigating both top dependencies and random libraries, revealed two distinct failure propagation patterns that pose significant risks to ecosystem stability. Core infrastructure failures, particularly evident in cases like the AWS SDK family with 429,800 total dependencies, create immediate and widespread disruption, affecting an average of 20,402 dependent projects and propagating through dependency chains averaging 90.80 levels deep.

Our analysis of peripheral projects reveals their significant cascading effects, with higher average …

Quantifying And Characterizing Microplastics In The Greater Philadelphia Region, Emily Lybashev

Biology Honors Papers

Plastic is one of the world's most useful and versatile materials, so it is no wonder that 400 million tons are produced yearly. When exposed to weathering, heat, water, and organisms, plastic degrades and produces microplastics. These microplastics have managed to leach into our oceans, local waterways, bodies, and even our atmosphere. The negative implications of microplastic contamination in our environment are slowly being uncovered with concerns of toxin buildup. Additionally, the amount of microplastics we are exposed to through local waterways is rarely quantified. Though microplastic research is picking up pace, the Schuylkill River which spans the Greater Philadelphia …

Lunar Secondary Crater Identification Through Semi-Automated Data Aggregation: The Beginnings Of The Pipeline, Annalyse Dickinson

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

Based on the number of primary craters on a surface, one can determine the age of that surface, but secondary craters contaminate that count. No single characteristic can distinguish primaries from secondaries with certainty; a feature that is present in one collection of secondaries can be absent in another due to the multitude of processes involved in their formation and degradation. We aim to develop a pipeline that will classify craters based on characteristics that have been used to differentiate secondaries on the Moon, including elevation profiles, degradation state, radar circular polarization ratio, rock abundance, and spatial clustering. We utilize …

Computational Analysis Of Proton Conductivity Factors In Grotthuss-Style Mechanisms, Brock Dyer

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

The mechanism and fundamental molecular properties involved in proton conduction are discussed. Four calculable properties are presented: the proton affinity, binding energy (between protonated and neutral forms), intramolecular tautomerization barrier, and proton hopping barrier. An overview of the computational methods used in this thesis, including an introduction to the many-body Schrödinger equation and Density Functional Theory, as well as a look at Plane-Wave Density Functional Theory and Gaussian-Type Orbital Density Functional Theory are presented. 4,5-dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazole is used as a model system, with 10 variations being generated with varying amounts and positions of fluorine substitution on the methyl groups. Preliminary calculations …

Quantifying The Rates Of Coastal Change Along Smith Island, Maryland, Sarah Lacy, Ravi Sankar

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

As increased climate variability continues to alter the environment, coastal landscapes are becoming increasingly vulnerable to geomorphic change. Coastal erosion, driven by rising sea levels, land subsidence, more intense storm events and human-induced activities poses a serious threat to the sustainability and resilience of island environments like Smith Island, a small marsh island located in the Chesapeake Bay. This study investigates the impacts of recent shoreline change along selected alongshore segments of the island’s coast. Using a combination of aerial imagery, field surveying techniques, and novel geospatial analyses, the project aims to identify areas at highest risk of erosion and …

Real-Time Active-Learning Method For Audio-Based Anomalous Event Identification And Rare Events Classification For Audio Events Detection, Farkhund Iqbal, Ahmed Abbasi, Ahmad Almadhor, Shtwai Alsubai, Michal Gregus

All Works

Introduction: Audio event detection, the application of scientific methods to analyze audio recordings, can be helpful in examining and analyzing audio recordings to preserve, analyze, and interpret sound evidence. Furthermore, it can be helpful in safety and compliance, security, surveillance, maintenance, and predictive analysis. Audio event detection aims to recover meaningful information from audio recordings, such as determining the authenticity of the recording, identifying the speakers, and reconstructing conversations. However, filtering out noise for better accuracy in audio event detection is a major challenge. A greater sense of public security can be achieved by developing automated event detection systems that …

Mine Closure Planning Must Face The Challenge Of Delivering Nature Positive Outcomes, Luis E. Sanchez, Angus Morrison-Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The need to address and reverse global biodiversity decline is imperative across all of society including the practices of mine closure planning. Nature Positive is the latest global biodiversity-focused initiative which calls for at least 30% of biodiversity to be enhanced through effective restoration relative to the 2020 baseline. This paper conceptualizes and explains what is necessary in mine closure planning and implementation to meaningfully contribute to this and other nature-positive goals, with some illustrative examples. Issues considered include application of the mitigation hierarchy, rehabilitation in mining and the time lag challenge for restoring biodiversity, biodiversity offsetting, conserving nature while …

The Chemistry Of Decomposition: The Mechanisms To Decay The Human Body, Lydia J. Buxa

Senior Honors Theses

Taphonomic analysis separates decomposition into four major stages: fresh, early decomposition, advanced decomposition, and skeletonization. It is easy to demarcate the observable changes to the body, but it is far more difficult to know what underlying biochemical processes are occurring. Fresh decomposition begins with algor mortis, livor mortis, and rigor mortis, which sets the stage for the major workforces of decomposition: autolysis and putrefaction. The external signs of decomposition appear in early decomposition, which can be attributed to the breakdown of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. This also leads to major changes in the moisture levels during advanced decomposition, …

The Impact Of Institutional Features On Student Retention Rates Using Regression And Random Forest Modeling, Grayson Tvrdik

Honors Projects

Student retention is a focus for higher education institutions aiming to improve student outcomes and institutional success. While previous research has often relied on qualitative assessments of college related factors, this project applies quantitative techniques at a national scale. Random forest and beta regression models were used to predict retention rates for public colleges based on institutional characteristics such as financial variables, enrollment patterns, and demographic metrics. The random forest models demonstrated higher accuracy than the beta regression models, leading us to find that financial variables and student integration factors are significant predictors of retention. Beta regression models, though less …

Electrocatalytic Nitric Oxide Reduction To Yield Ammonia Over Fe3C Nanocrystals, Sen Lin, Lang Zhang, Tong Hou, Jun-Yang Ding, Zi-Mo Peng, Yi-Fan Liu, Xi-Jun Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nitric oxide (NO), which generally originates from vehicle exhaust and industrial flue gases, is one of the most serious air pollutants. In this case, the electrochemical NO reduction reaction (NORR) not only removes the atmospheric pollutant NO but also produces valuable NH₃. Hence, through the synthesis and modification of Fe₃C nanocrystal catalysts, the as-obtained optimal sample of Fe₃C/C-900 was adopted as NORR catalyst at ambient conditions. As a result, the Fe₃C/C-900 catalyst showed an NH₃ Faraday efficiency of 76.5% and an NH₃ yield rate of 177.5 μmol·h^–1·cm^{–2 …}

The Geologic History Of The Chehalis Forearc Basin, Washington State, Usa, Rud Lamb Moe

Dissertations and Theses

The Chehalis Basin, in southwest Washington, is one of a series of forearc basins between the Cascade Arc and the Coast Range in the Pacific Northwest. While the Seattle basin to the north, and the Portland-Tualatin basins to the south are both relatively well studied, the geologic evolution of basins in between is poorly constrained. The Chehalis basin is underlain by accreted Eocene oceanic basalt of the Crescent Formation. The basin fill consists of sedimentary rocks and volcanic rocks deposited throughout the Cenozoic. It has undergone N-S shortening driven by transpressional stress from oblique subduction of the Juan de Fuca …

Ordering Degree Regulation Of Pt2Nico Intermetallics For Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Chen-Hao Zhang, Han-Yu Hua, Jun-Hao Yang, Qian Zhang, Chang Yang, De-Li Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Alloying transition metals with Pt is an effective strategy for optimizing Pt-based catalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Atomic ordered intermetallic compounds (IMC) provide unique electronic and geometrical effects as well as stronger intermetallic interactions due to the ordered arrangement of metal atoms, thus exhibiting superior electrocatalytic activity and durability. However, quantitatively analyzing the ordering degree of IMC and exploring the correlation between the ordering degree and ORR activity remains extremely challenging. Herein, a series of ternary Pt₂NiCo intermetallic catalysts (o-Pt₂NiCo) with different ordering degree were synthesized by annealing temperature modulation. Among them, the o-Pt …

Performance Of Co2/H2O Co-Electrolysis In A Flat-Tube Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Stack Under Air-Free Environment, Xiao-Hui Zhong, Fei Wang, An-Qi Wu, Bei-Bei Han, Jian-Xin Wang, Wan-Bing Guan

Journal of Electrochemistry

This work investigates the transient performance and stability of CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis in an air-free environment using a flat-tube solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack. The results show that the transient behavior of the stack with and without blowing gas in the air electrode is almost the same. With a current density of 0.67 A·cm⁻²@750 °C, the stack operated for over 200 h under co-electrolysis conditions with no air blowing, and the voltage drop rate of the stack was approximately 0.203%/100 hours. Microstructure analysis reveals significant loss of Ni particles and formation of an insulating …

Variation Of Membrane Electrode Assembly Catalyst Layer In Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell, Yollanda Nurcholifah, Dedi Rohendi, Edy Herianto Majlan, Nirwan Syarif, Addy Rachmat, Dwi Hawa Yulianti, Nyimas Febrika S

Journal of Electrochemistry

A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) is a device that may function reversibly as either a fuel cell (FC) or water electrolysis (WE). An important component of this device is the Membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Therefore, this study aimed to compare the performance outcomes of MEA using electrodes with single and three catalyst layers. This study measured Electrochemical Surface Area (ECSA), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Furthermore, the round-trip efficiency (RTE) of the MEA, as well as the performance in FC and WE mode, was measured. In comparison, The ECSA values of Pt-Ru/C …

Estimated Amounts Of Terrestrial Carbon Mobilized And Sequestered By The 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption, Washington State, Usa, Lizzet G. Reyes

Dissertations and Theses

Volcanic eruptions significantly influence the geologic carbon cycle by emitting CO₂ and mobilizing terrestrial carbon pools. The 1980 Mount St. Helens (MSH) eruption offers a unique case study, triggering a massive landslide that displaced 2.7 km³ of sediment, buried 600 km² of forest, and disrupted regional carbon dynamics. Pre-eruption terrestrial carbon stocks, including aboveground biomass (AGB), dead biomass (D), and soil organic carbon (S), averaged 209.5 tC/ha. Post-eruption, total carbon density fell to 118.7 tC/ha, driven mainly by a 51% reduction in AGB, modest declines in D, and redistribution of S. Over 36 years, ecosystem recovery increased …

Dissolving Sand Into Fog - Portraying Long Term Temporal Illusions Through Music, Kyle Bergler

Honors Projects

Long-term temporal illusions permeate our day-to-day lives, but due to their highly subjective nature, few are familiar with them. To help introduce these topics in a way that lets a wider audience connect individually with them, I composed three works for percussion ensembles, each in a different style, and each portraying one or multiple long-term temporal illusions. All of these pieces were composed and rehearsed throughout the spring 2025 semester and premiered at my senior recital on April 19, 2025.

The Dialogue Dilemma: The Role Of Patient-Clinician Communication For Low-Income People Who Smoke And Manage Multiple Conditions, Monique T. Cano, Michael R. Lindstrom, Ricardo F. Muñoz

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Adults from low-income backgrounds who smoke face significant health disparities related to tobacco use, often at disproportionately high rates. These individuals are more likely to endure multiple mental and physical (MP) health conditions, which can negatively influence their self-rated health (SRH). The quality and effectiveness of patient-clinician communication (PCC) can influence how patients perceive their own health. Understanding how PCC influences SRH among low-income adults who smoke and suffer from multiple MP conditions is essential for clinical care as multimorbidity is on the rise. This study examines how PCC may influence the health perceptions of low-income adults who smoke …

Systemization Of Knowledge (Sok): Goals, Coverage, And Evaluation In Cybersecurity And Privacy Games, Yue Huang, Marthie Grobler, Lauren S. Ferro, Georgia Psaroulis, Sanchari Das, Jing Wei, Helge Janicke

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper systematized existing knowledge on cybersecurity and privacy game-based approaches, exploring their goals, scope, and evaluation methods. Our review of 93 academic papers revealed that these approaches serve multiple purposes and target diverse player types. We identified 11 key aspects of cybersecurity and privacy that these approaches addressed, such as threats, defensive strategies, and data privacy. Additionally, we analyzed the effectiveness evaluation methods of these approaches, emphasizing the connections between evaluation techniques, types of data used, and their alignment with the approaches' goals. We also summarized the aspects of user experience evaluated in the literature and the types of …

Quantization For A Condensation System, Shivam Dubey, Mrinal Kanti Roychowdhury, Saurabh Verma

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

For a given r∈(0,+∞), the quantization dimension of order r, if it exists, denoted by Dr(μ), represents the rate at which the nth quantization error of order r approaches zero as the number of elements n in an optimal set of n-means for μ tends to infinity. If Dr(μ) does not exist, we define D−−r(μ) and ¯¯¯Dr(μ) as the lower and the upper quantization dimensions of μ of order r, respectively. In this paper, we investigate the quantization dimension of the condensation measure μ associated with a condensation system ({Sj}Nj=1, (pj)Nj=0,ν). We provide two examples: one where ν is an …

Cyber Safety: Protecting Yourself Online, Laxima Niure Kandel, Kayla D. Taylor, Bhawana Poudel, Helen Hernandez

Graduate Student Works

The IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group of Daytona hosted a cybersecurity awareness event on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Port Orange Regional Library. The session was designed specifically to help seniors in Volusia County learn how to protect themselves online, avoid scams, create strong passwords, and safely navigate the digital world.

Global Ionospheric F Region Parameters From Gnss-Pod Limb Measurements: Evaluations And Comparisons With Two Empirical Models - Iri-2020 And Nequick-2, Nimalan Swarnalingam, Dong L. Wu, Dieter Bilitza, Daniel J. Emmons, Cornelius Csar Jude H. Salinas, Artem Smirnov, Yenca Migoya-Oru

Faculty Publications

An optimal estimation (OE) technique has recently been developed for F region electron density (Ne) using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) limb sounding on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites (COSMIC-2, Spire, and FengYun-3). This method provides unprecedented spatiotemporal sampling for global monthly Ne climatology within 100–500 km in 2 hr intervals. The global dataset, collected during mid to moderately high solar activity, is compared with leading models: IRI-2020 and NeQuick-2. Diurnal variations in summer, winter, and equinoctial months are examined for the F2-layer peak, as well as the topside and bottomside of the F region. The observed and modeled NmF2 …

Autoradai: A Versatile Artificial Intelligence Framework Validated For Detecting Extracapsular Extension In Prostate Cancer, Pegah Khosravi, Shady Saikali, Abolfazl Alipour, Saber Mohammadi, Maxwell Boger, Dalanda M. Diallo, Christopher J. Smith, Marcio C. Moschovas, Iman Hajirasouliha, Andrew J. Hung, Srirama S. Venkataraman, Vipul Patel

Publications and Research

Preoperative identification of extracapsular extension (ECE) in prostate cancer (PCa) is crucial for effective treatment planning, as ECE presence significantly increases the risk of positive surgical margins and early biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. AutoRadAI, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) framework, was developed to address this clinical challenge while demonstrating broader potential for diverse medical imaging applications. The framework integrates T2-weighted MRI data with histopathology annotations, leveraging a dual convolutional neural network (multi-CNN) architecture. AutoRadAI comprises two key components: ProSliceFinder, which isolates prostate-relevant MRI slices, and ExCapNet, which evaluates ECE likelihood at the patient level. The system was trained and …

Construction Of Stock Portfolios By Machine Learning Methods, Alfan Gehad Abulehia

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

We review the theoretical foundations and empirical workings of Long Short-Term Memory Networks (LSTM) and Random Forest for stock market prediction. To be precise, our work initiates with a deep-dive exploration in the mathematics of these algorithms which covers topics like gradient descent, automatic differentiation, and a bit on recurrent neural networks as well.
An application creates stock portfolios through LSTM and Random Forest rules- based strategies, using either technical or fundamental indicators as input variables. The process involves predicting returns and ranking stocks accordingly to build portfolios with a certain level of diversification and annual rebalancing over a defined …