Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Earth Analogue Analysis Of Volcanic/Tectonic Interactions With Applications To Venusian Stresses, Michael Ortigoza

Theses and Dissertations

Venus shares many geological similarities with Earth, yet its tectonic processes and magma injection mechanisms remain poorly understood. A key question in planetary geology is how effusive volcanism persists despite the intense horizontal compression terrestrial bodies experience over time. To explore these issues, we examine the Spanish Peaks dike swarm in Colorado which serves as an ideal site for investigating magma intrusion under compressive stress conditions. Through field mapping, orientation measurements, and structural analysis, we identify a strong relationship between pre-existing joints and dike orientations, suggesting that these fractures serve as critical magma pathways in compressive regimes. Additionally, evidence of …

Establishing A Baseline For Detecting Lotl Attacks In Windows Operating Systems, Ashlyn Martin Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an increasing realization of the rise in living off the land (LOTL) attacks where adversaries misuse legitimate system tools, particularly with state-sponsored actors targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. These attacks are difficult to detect because they allow attackers to remain present in a system without the user’s knowledge for an extended period. This thesis establishes an initial baseline specifically for Windows operating systems to measure normal system activity, focusing on CPU usage, memory utilization, and process activity. It particularly examines the use of PowerShell alongside other applications. The findings from this baseline are used to …

Investigations Into Fluorescence Of Fluorene Dimers: Linker Impacts And Tuning Potential Through Substituent Addition, Abigail R. Ressler

Theses and Dissertations

Fluorene-based fluorescing conjugated polymers are being used to develop sensors that show great sensitivity and selectivity, however, important questions about the photophysics of these systems remain unanswered. For example, a fluorescence intensity difference was observed between fluorene dimers linked with either an acetylene (diFA) or phenyl (diFP). The polymers diFA and diFP have similar structures and extinction coefficients, yet diFA yielded a five times higher fluorescence intensity than diFP. In project one, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT) were used to calculate the ground and excited states of diFA and diFP. A python code was developed to solve …

Integrating Case Studies With Meteorologists’ Insight: Assessing Meteorologists’ Perception And Utilization Of Composite Indices, Brianna Marie Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

Meteorologists from sectors, including broadcast, academia, and operations, use derived composite indices such as 0-1km and 0-3km energy helicity index (EHI), effective-layer supercell composite parameter (SCP), fixed-layer and effective layer significant tornado parameter (STP), in addition to other resources, when developing severe local storm forecasts. This study utilizes the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to create simulations of composite indices for two tornado-producing events: 31 March 2023 and 3 May 1999. With modifications to geographical location, these simulated scenarios are then utilized in the survey to gauge how meteorologists assess where tornado potential is highest. Additionally, a combination of …

Zeroizing Trust In A Naïve Federated Zero Trust Environment, Keith E. Strandell

Theses and Dissertations

The position of the United States on the global stage is predicated on information dominance and the ability to project power through cooperative engagements with mission partners in both wartime and peacetime. Recent cyber-attacks highlighted the need for a more robust cybersecurity posture. As the United States progresses toward the adoption of Zero Trust, it is incumbent on the Department of Defense to assess the impact to the ability to share data across strategic partnerships while securing the data of both the United States and its partners. This paper proposes research into ensuring an environment rooted in Zero Trust and …

Synthetic Data Augmentation For Retinoblastoma Using Diffusion, Andrew Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Many AI models rely on large and high quality datasets for optimal training. In certain cases, data can be difficult or expensive to obtain, making training difficult. Rare medical conditions are one of these cases. Datasets for retinoblastoma are severely lacking in quantity. Diffusion has been used to create synthetic data in the industrial, medical, and financial domains. By applying the latest Diffusion methods to retinoblastoma, this work seeks to improve predictive model performance on identifying retinoblastoma.

A Framework For Modular Knowledge Composition In Network Intrusion Detection Systems, Patrick L. Day

Theses and Dissertations

Autonomic Intrusion Detection Systems (AIDS) are sophisticated software systems designed to autonomously and adaptively identify and respond to security threats and intrusions in computer networks or systems. One of the fundamental challenges in intrusion detection research lies in the limited availability and scope of publicly available datasets. The proposed research aims to address data-related gaps with autonomic and traditional intrusion detection systems by describing a comprehensive approach to investigate the impact and potential of data augmentation. The goal is to explore various data augmentation techniques, assess their effectiveness in introducing variability, and evaluate their impact on the performance of neural-based …

Assessment Of Water Quality And Remediation Of Heavy Metals In A Coastal System, Christiana Fumnanya Eziashi

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on a three-part study to assess water quality in a coastal system and evaluate the absorption capacity of modified biochar and algae to remediate cadmium (Cd). The first chapter introduces the hypothesis and objectives, and the second chapter provides a detailed literature review. The third chapter focuses on the first study, where surface water samples and water quality data collected from a manned boat and a novel autonomous surface vessel (ASV) in the Western Mississippi Sound (WMS) in the summer of 2021 and 2022 were analyzed and the interrelationship between the nutrient, trace metals, salinity, and chlorophyll-a …

Bucket-Based Priority Queues For A* And Related Bounded-Suboptimal And Anytime Search Algorithms: Theoretical And Practical Advancements, Garrett Michael Fereday

Theses and Dissertations

For shortest-path problems with a small number of integer transition costs, it is well-known that the performance of the classic A* algorithm can be improved by using bucketing to reduce priority queue overhead—in particular, by using a bucket queue data structure for the priority queue, instead of a binary heap. This dissertation describes several theoretical and practical extensions of this approach. First, the traditional two-level bucket queue data structure is modified in simple ways to improve the worst-case complexity of its operations, which leads to the first demonstration that the priority queue operations of a two-level bucket queue for A* …

Influence Of Horizontal Grid Spacing On Numerical Weather Prediction Simulations Of Clear Air Turbulence, Kailah Rose Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was to analyze the influence of horizontal grid spacing on numerical simulations of kinetic and thermal forced clear air turbulence (CAT) by quantifying uncertainty using a resolution ensemble. Previous studies indicated that microscale (< 1km) spatial resolutions are necessary to resolve turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) with low uncertainty. Six case studies of moderate or greater CAT, from pilot reports, were simulated at six horizontal grid spacings including 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32km using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model. Results showed that grid spacing does influence the magnitude of uncertainty; however, the relationship between the grid spacings varied with the type of CAT being simulated and the addition of the cumulus parameterization scheme for grid spacings greater than 4km. Overall, higher precision was found between convective resolutions (1-4km), indicating that microscale resolutions are not necessary to precisely simulate TKE for CAT forecasts.

From Tree Rings To Streamflow: Reconstructing The Hydroclimatic History Of The Mississippi River Basin Over The Past Millennia, Brandon Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi River Basin (MRB), the largest watershed in the United States, plays a central role in shaping regional hydroclimate. This study reconstructs streamflow variability in the MRB from the year 1200 to 2005 by applying principal component regression to streamflow data from 51 gauges and the North American Drought Atlas (NADA), a tree-ring-based reconstruction of the summer self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index. Verification statistics indicated strong predictive skill across the domain. These findings provide critical insight into long-term hydroclimatic variability in the MRB and underscore the value of paleoclimate records for improving water resource assessments.

Ai Enabled Autonomic, Safe, And Interactive Intrusion Response System, Damodar Panigrahi

Theses and Dissertations

The exponential rise in internet usage has precipitated a corresponding surge in cyber threats, underscoring the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity solutions. While traditional intrusion detection systems (IDS) can identify these threats, their inability to self-recover leaves systems vulnerable. Intrusion response systems (IRS) have been developed to address this, aiming to auto- matically restore systems to their desired state post-security breach. However, current IRSs often necessitate manual intervention and may not be su!ciently robust against sophisticated threats. To overcome these limitations, we propose an AI-powered Autonomic, Safe, and Interactive Intrusion Response System called ‘Intrusion Response System Digital Assistant (IRSDA)’. IRSDA …

Enhancing Chemical Synthesis For Sustainability And Process Monitoring Utilizing Group Ten Metal Catalysis, Amanda M. Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores two sustainable methodologies by modifying established catalytic processes using group ten metal complexes from nickel and palladium. Efforts were made to provide alternatives for processes that often do not follow the principles of green chemistry. In the first project, a nickel(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complex was used to perform catalytic hydrogenation of 2-acetylpyridine under mild conditions. The complex was synthesized and characterized with techniques including mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR. Following this, the reactions were carried out to optimize conditions and yield moderate conversions. For the second project, the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling of 7-chlorotryptophan occurred utilizing a palladium complex …

Re: Comment Letter For Draft Final Bpsou Unreclaimed Site Anderson Shaft Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) (Dated June 14, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Reprocessing, Post-Processing Conditions, And Environmental Exposure On The Physical Properties Of Post-Industrial And Post-Consumer Polyethylene, Grant M. Howard

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF REPROCESSING, POST-PROCESSING CONDITIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF POST-INDUSTRIAL AND POST-CONSUMER POLYETHYLENE

An Abstract of the Thesis by

Grant Howard

Plastic pollution is a rapidly growing problem. Globally, millions of tons of plastic waste are produced, and that amount is projected to increase each year. To address this, recycling of commodity thermoplastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, have become a point of emphasis in industry. Companies have started to investigate the use of recycled plastics instead of virgin plastics in their products. The advantages of using recycled material are to receive tax breaks, …

Development Of Non-Precious Iron-Cobalt Alloy Catalyst For Electrocatalytic Reaction, Harsh Panchal

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The development of a FeCo alloy catalyst with tunable Fe/Co ratios is examined to improve electrocatalytic performance in reactions like the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Many energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water-splitting systems, depend on these interactions to function. These technologies have huge potential to meet the increasing need for hydrogen production and renewable energy sources worldwide, which are critical to attaining a sustainable energy future. When compared with noble metal-based catalysts, the FeCo alloy catalyst shows much higher catalytic activity, according to previous studies. Hydrothermal …

Soybean Oil-Derived Acrylate/Methacrylate Ether For High Resolution Additive Manufacturing (3d Printing) Technology, Tanuj Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing is one of the rapidly developing techniques, as industries continue to explore new ways to create prototypes and end-use parts, one of the significant challenges that remains is the reliance on petroleum-based plastics for 3D printing, especially in the production of photocurable resins. that may be used to prototype complex structures and sophisticated geometries that are typically challenging to produce with conventional methods. Thus, replacing petroleum-based plastics with renewable resources is increasingly important for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of photocurable resins. The use of bio-based renewable resources in AM is a feasible alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Henceforth, …

Epoxidized Castor Oil Based Thermosets With Reprocessable And Non Reprocessable Properties, Vaibhav Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Castor oil-based polymers have gained significant attention due to their renewable nature, low cost, and ease of processing, making them ideal for various applications, including biofuels and the petrochemical industry. Among these, epoxidized castor oil (ECO)-based thermosets have been extensively studied for their promising mechanical and thermal properties. This study focuses on recent advancements in ECO thermosets synthesized with 4,4-dithiodianiline (DTDA) which has aromatic disulfide bonds and 4,4-ditaminodiphenylmethane (DMPM) which has methylene bridge. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of epoxy functionalities into castor oil. The structure-reactivity relationship was examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which reveals that ECO_DMPM based …

Zn–Assisted Synthesis Of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity, Kemila A. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on an nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but proved to be very challenging. Herein, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high temperature treatment and characterized using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E_1/2 = 0.90 V) and …

Investigating The Microbial Communities In Freshwaters Of Northern Sweden, Maizy Wilcox

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Climate change is shifting the stability of sensitive ecosystems in the Arctic region due to global warming, with widespread impacts on permafrost regions, including the Stordalen Mire region of Sweden. Due to climate change, the Stordalen Mire is composed of thawing permafrost shifting into a wetland (V onk et al., 2015). As permafrost thaws, the landscape transforms due to changing water environmental conditions, causing lower pH changes and higher temperatures in the water, impacting the underlying soil chemistry and biology, vegetation, and microbial communities (Webb et al., 2022). The increased temperature can enhance methanogenic microbial growth by expanding the groundwater …

Seismological Applications To Crustal Deformation And Explosion Discrimination, Olumide Adedeji

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

There are many outstanding questions in seismology and plate tectonics that remain unresolved due to the complexity of seismic wave propagation, fault system evolution, and sedimentary-tectonic interactions. In this dissertation, I analyze seismic and acoustic data to improve event discrimination, understand strain partitioning along a transpressive plate boundary, and investigate the influence of tectonic deformation on sedimentary processes. Using seismic arrays, I assess the detectability of Ground Coupled Airwaves (GCA) generated by shallow borehole explosions and earthquakes, demonstrating that GCA detections are highly dependent on source type, environmental conditions and sensor distribution. Along the Queen Charlotte Plate Boundary, I analyze …

From Data To Action: An Adaptable Crosstabs Template For Participatory Survey Data Analysis, Natalia Pinzon, Vikram Koundinya, William O'R Dowling, Ryan Galt

Journal of Extension

We present a practical and accessible template for quantitative survey data analysis designed for non-academic researchers in order to facilitate engagement from community collaborators. The template, created in Google Sheets, is mainly for computing cross-tabulations, but it also displays frequency distributions and p-values for determining statistical significance. The template allows collaborators to record their observations and questions, promoting an efficient yet interactive review process and fostering a democratic analysis environment. Based on our own experience using this template for a data party, we highlight its effectiveness in promoting collaborative data interpretation, decision-making, and the actionable use of survey findings.

Natural Resource Enterprises - Income Diversification And Conservation Practices Implemented On Private Lands In The United States, Daryl Jones

Journal of Extension

Wildlife-related recreation is popular with Americans spending over $150 billion dollars annually. I have conducted educational workshops (>100 events) to train U.S. landowners in natural resource enterprises development offering recreational hunting, angling, and nature tourism excursions along with conservation management practices to enhance wildlife habitats on their lands. To measure impacts, I conducted a comprehensive mail survey study with participants since 2010. Findings revealed that landowners who initiated these enterprises earned annual incomes and implemented conservation practices on properties. More training for landowners is recommended to increase income diversification and conservation of wildlife habitats and stewardship on private lands.

Climate Change Impacts On Drinking Water Security: A Comparative Study In Australia’S Remote Central Australia And Torres Strait Islands, Nina Lansbury, Julia Bradford, Sandra J. Creamer, Geoffrey Evans

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are well adapted to the many different environments in which they have lived for thousands of years. However, their environments and communities are highly vulnerable to impacts of anthropogenic climate change, including increasing threats to the security of drinking water supplies. Climate change is intensifying the significant social and economic disadvantage Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face from poverty, poor housing, and poor health including high exposure to infectious and other diseases. Lack of sufficient safe, clean, drinking water could force Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to leave their homelands, adding …

The Confluence, Volume 4, Issue 1, Full Issue

The Confluence

No abstract provided.

Adverse Cognitions: The Effects Of Childhood Trauma On Brain Development, Faith Salamone

The Confluence

The effect of adverse experiences in childhood have been known to create lasting difficulties, even in adulthood. While it can be hard to determine the effects of childhood trauma on the brain, many studies have identified areas that appear to be negatively impacted by these adverse childhood experiences. This paper is a meta-analysis of eight articles that have attempted to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on the developing brain. These articles are specifically investigating the effects of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. The areas that will be discussed in this paper are the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, the limbic …

Cybersecurity And Global Threats: A Comparative Analysis Of Estonia And Russia’S Policies, María Paula Morales Palacios

The Confluence

As digital technology continues to reshape the foundations of modern life, the question of how states respond to cyber threats has become increasingly urgent. This paper examines how political systems shape national cybersecurity policies by comparing Estonia and Russia, two countries facing similar external threats but governed by vastly different structures. Estonia’s democratic framework emphasizes transparency, citizen participation, and international cooperation, while Russia’s semi-authoritarian model centers on state sovereignty, centralized control, and strategic offensive capabilities. Drawing on key historical events, including the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and the 2016 attacks on Russian banks, the paper explores how each state’s political …

Entanglement Distribution Of Universal Quantum Cloners, James B. Daughtry

Student Scholarship

Szab`o et al. [4] show that universal quantum cloning machines may be used to manipulate entanglement between bipartite states. Entanglement is measured with concurrence, C, and it is shown that as the fidelity of the cloner improves, more entanglement transfers from the reference to the cloned state. This thesis characterizes the nature of this entanglement transfer by analyzing the entanglement distribution of the cloner. In this analysis we will show that entanglement is generally destroyed after cloning except in cases where there is no cloning, two identical qubits are created, or there is complete qubit transfer. Along with …

The Agrivoltaics Opportunity In California: Dual Use Of Agricultural Land To Support Energy Transition And Bolster Climate Resilience, Joy Michelle Cox

Master's Projects and Capstones

Agrivoltaics, which facilitates energy and food production on the same land, is an emerging technological approach that supports agricultural productivity while growing farm revenues through solar electricity sales. Agrivoltaics use in the United States is nascent, with only 2% of utility-scale solar projects integrating agricultural production. Based on estimated high- and low-end ranges in the scientific literature, I have calculated that California can use agrivoltaics to produce 20% of the additional 70 gigawatts of utility-scale solar required to meet the state’s 2045 zero-carbon electricity goal. This 20% target is ambitious and achievable, and the impacts across land use, greenhouse gas …

2025 May 15 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.