Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Young Professionals, Zachary Gibson

Journal Articles

Like many of us, I have attended numerous panels, seminars, and workshops geared toward helping young professionals and students. The more senior professionals are gathered for us to question and tap them for wisdom and anecdotes. One such question that inevitably comes up in one form or another is, “How did you get to where you are?” A thinly veiled question intending to ask how can one get to the same or similar position. The response often begins with a soft chuckle and a “well … ” Their answers are caveated by “my path was not the typical path.”

Re: Draft Final 2023 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Butte-Silver Bow Parks Soil Remedial Action Construction Completion Report (Ccr), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Areas Of Weakness In Forensic Footwear Research, Kathryn Roy

Honors Projects

Forensic footwear examinations have been carried out for almost a century, but the foundational validity of identifying a questioned impression to a particular shoe has been questioned by the National Research Council and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The focus of this paper was to identify the current weaknesses present in forensic footwear impression research. Additionally, a future experiment was proposed to address these concerns and improve the foundational validity of footwear impression comparisons. A total of 15 footwear research studies varying in methodology and content were analyzed and contrasted. From this, a lack of studies …

The Analysis Of Reference Standard Storage Failures Through The Use Of Ibuprofen, Hope Vonder Brink

Honors Projects

Reference standards are commonly used in drug chemistry. They are used to calibrate the instruments and serve as a known point of reference for analysts’ ability to compare unknowns. Drugs can degrade over time or through environmental factors, causing contaminants to be present. In the event of environmental degradation while in storage, such as the exposure to high heat, it would be beneficial to have a database of known breakdown products in common drug reference standards for analysts’ reference. Using ibuprofen as an exemplar drug, this study attempted to identify the thermal breakdown products of ibuprofen and introduce the proposed …

Ibn Al-Haytham (Alhazen), Mithra H. Pirooz, Jonathan B. Santo

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn al-Haytham was an Arab Muslim born around 965 CE and died circa 1040 CE in current-day Iraq.  A scientist, astronomer, philosopher, and mathematician, he is particularly known for his work in astronomy, mathematics, visual perception, and optics.  In medieval Europe, he was referred to as the “Second Ptolemy”.  As the first to determine that vision results from light being reflected from an object to the eye, he is often referred to as “the father of optics”.  He is also praised for being among the first theoretical physicists.  He was one of the first scientists …

Navigating Ethical Dimensions In The Metaverse: Challenges, Frameworks, And Solutions, Mousa Al-Kfairy, Saed Alrabaee, Omar Alfandi, Amr Taha Mohamed, Souheil Khaddaj

All Works

The Metaverse is rapidly evolving into a transformative digital ecosystem, bringing with it unprecedented opportunities and a complex array of ethical challenges. This narrative review, based on an in-depth analysis of 105 full publications, explores the key ethical themes associated with the Metaverse, including privacy and data security, identity and behavior, digital inclusivity, mental and physical health, ethical AI, content moderation, intellectual property, governance, environmental sustainability, harassment, cultural representation, and economic implications. Proposed solutions for these challenges encompass privacy-by-design frameworks, robust identity verification systems, equitable access initiatives, explainable AI, and blockchain-based intellectual property protections. Additionally, the review examines governance and …

Changes In The Incidence, Viral Coinfection Pattern And Outcomes Of Pneumococcal Hospitalizations During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, King-Pui Florence Chan, Ting Fung Ma, Hanshu Fang, Wai-Kai Tsui, James Chung-Man Ho, Mary Sau-Man Ip, Pak-Leung Ho

Faculty Publications

Background

The incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in the context of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, along with the real-world data on the ratio of non-invasive to invasive pneumococcal pneumonia, is an area that has not been thoroughly studied. The outcomes associated with coinfection of influenza and COVID-19 remain unknown. This study examined the incidence, demographics, coinfection with influenza and/or COVID-19, and clinical outcomes of pneumococcal hospitalizations in Hong Kong during the baseline, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

Methods

Hospitalization records of individuals aged 18 years and above with pneumococcal disease from January 2015 to August 2024 were extracted from the …

Fictional Failures And Real-World Lessons: Ethical Speculation Through Design Fiction On Emotional Support Conversational Ai, Fayle Kollig, Jessica Pater, Fayika Farhat Nova, Casey Fiesler

Health Services and Informatics Research

Conversational artificial intelligence (CAI), which replicates human-to-human interaction as human-to-machine, is increasingly developed to address insufficient access to healthcare. In this paper, we use design fiction methods to speculate on ethical consequences of CAI that offers emotional support to complement or replace mental healthcare. Through a near-future news article about a fictional, failed CAI, we explore safety and privacy concerns associated with mismatches between what an emotional support CAI is advertised to do, what it technically can do, and how it is likely to be used. We pose the following questions to researchers, regulators, and developers: How might we jointly …

The Role Of Natural Language Processing In Abstract Dataset To Improve Virtual Assistant Devices, Reem Alshahoomi, Salma Alameri, Sanaa Alfalasi, Feras Al-Obeidat

All Works

Natural Language Processing (NLP) has transformed human-computer interaction, especially in the realm of virtual assistants. NLP enables machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language, driving innovations in applications ranging from virtual assistants to customer service chatbots. This paper delves into the intersection of NLP and virtual assistants, examining advanced models like BERT and RoBERTa, which enhance contextual understanding and user intent recognition. Through a comprehensive evaluation using the dataset of research abstracts to explore new methods and improve response for virtual assistant devices, it explores methods to improve model efficiency, precision, and scalability. By leveraging machine learning techniques and …

Draft Final 2023 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap): Koprivica Park Soil Remedial Action Construction Completion Report, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Essential Pillars For The Post-2026 Colorado River Guidelines, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Kathryn Sorensen, Katherine Tara

The Traveling Wilburys of the Colorado River

The process for determining the operating rules for the Colorado River system that will take effect in 2027 is in full swing. While various alternative operating regimes have been proposed, no preferred or consensus alternative has yet emerged. As a group of experienced Colorado River colleagues without affiliation to any Basin State, Tribe, or interested stakeholder, we submit that there are fundamental principles that should form the basis of the ultimate Record of Decision defining management of the Colorado River for the future. We propose the following essential pillars for inclusion in the Post-2026 Guidelines.

Representative Sampling, Jessica Choe, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The research process begins with an initial observation that scientists or researchers of various backgrounds want to engage in and understand, which prompts them to formulate theories and hypotheses, collect data, and use statistical procedures to organize, summarize, and interpret gathered data. Research conducted through questionnaires or surveys are often utilized to determine the nature of a population or the interests of members in a particular group.

Interviewedge: A Smart Technical Interview Simulator, Salavuddin Shaik, Ziad Al-Sharif

Celebration of Scholarship

Traditional interview preparation lacks real-time feedback, adaptability, and interactive assessments, leaving candidates unprepared for highstakes technical interviews. InterviewEdge is a next-generation technical interview simulation platform that combines dynamic coding challenges, AI-powered evaluation, and real-time speech analysis to refine problemsolving and communication skills—key aspects of modern hiring assessments. InterviewEdge is built using Next.js, Node.js, and MongoDB, integrating AI-driven evaluation models to provide instant, structured feedback on coding correctness, efficiency, and structure. Beyond technical assessments, the platform also analyzes behavioral responses via speech-to-text processing, evaluating clarity, articulation, and storytelling using industry-aligned best practices. Unlike conventional platforms, InterviewEdge gamifies the learning experience through …

Modeling Cis/Trans Preferences Of Sn("Acac")2cl2 Complexes, Luke L. Rising, Hanna Sunsdahl, Matthew Burrows, Juan Carlos Feregrino Ponce

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Tin(IV) complexes bearing two chloride ligands and two symmetric β-diketonate ligands exhibit octahedral geometries. As such, they can theoretically present in two geometric isomer forms, cis and trans. Modeling of isomeric forms of these Sn(IV) complexes with five different β-diketonate ligands has been conducted to identify overall preference as well as to attempt to ascertain any influence the ligand's own electronic properties has on exhibited isomeric preference. Additionally, modeled IR spectra of cis and trans forms were compared to determine the utility of that characterization method in distinguishing these isomers.

Development Of A Hybrid Synthetic And Computational Teaching Lab Exercise Featuring Budotitane, Kezia J. Lemke

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Budotitane is notable for its reported activity against cancer cells as well as its array of geometric structural possibilities. Preparation of budotitane, bis(1-phenyl-1,2-propanedionato)bis(ethoxy)titanium(IV), and its subsequent characterization by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies as well as mass spectrometry has been implemented in an upper-level inorganic chemistry course. Computational modeling has also been utilized to predict the most energetically favorable isomer, as well as to generate modeled spectra for comparison to experimentally obtained results.

Progress Towards The Synthesis Of Trans-4-Bromo-2-Heptene, Ava L. Dillon

Research & Creative Achievement Day

trans-4-Bromo-2-heptene (1) is a simple compound that has never been synthesized in pure form and could be a useful starting material for organic synthesis. Therefore, the goal of this research is to synthesize 1 with a multistep synthesis. The synthesis starts with the preparation of hept-2-yn-4-ol (2) via a Grignard synthesis with the triple bond acting as a masking group for the alkene. The alcohol is converted to 4-bromo-2-heptyne (3). Step 3 is the most crucial step of selectively reducing the triple bond to the desired double bond. Finally, because the reduction should produce the cis alkene, the …

Geospatial Analysis Of Flood Risk On Housing Price In Fargo, Nd, Sho Sato

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Flooding, one of the most destructive natural hazards, causes millions of dollars in damage each year. As climate change intensifies, even ar-eas previously less prone to flooding may become increasingly vulner-able. Fargo, ND, has experienced multiple floods in the past, high-lighting the growing risk. This research evaluates the relationship be-tween flood risk and property values in Fargo, ND.

Using The Epic Algorithm For Radio Astronomy, Samuel D. Michaud

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The EPIC (E-field Parallel Imaging Correlator) algorithm is a direct imaging correlator for radio interferometer arrays. Bypassing the expensive processing step of cross correlation and immediately computing a spatial fast Fourier transform allows it to generate extremely high framerate radio images. EPIC serves to efficiently process signals from a very high count of radio antennas in an array with parallel computing, scaling as Nlog(N). This research project investigates the advantages and limitations of using EPIC for astronomy. This was done by stress testing both the user interface and back-end database through SQL commands to validate the output data it processed …

Modeling Sod1 Enzyme Mutations: Biochemistry Ii Lab Class Project, Jenna Bolduan, Elle K. Haumont

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the detoxification of reactive oxygen species that cause damage to the body. Mutations of this protein can cause diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The structures of the SOD1 wild type and two of its deleterious mutations (A4V and L126*) were digitally modeled using the AI program AlphaFold3. Although a literature structure exists for A4V, no experimental structure data has been collected for L126*. The wild type and A4V structures were virtually identical, whereas the wild type and L126* structures had quite different features, with the mutant being smaller and …

Some Inequalities Of A Matrix And Its Modulus In Powers Acting On Unit Vectors, Fuzhen Zhang

Mathematics Colloquium Series

Given a square matrix, one can associate it with a variety of numerical values and properties—such as the trace, determinant, eigenvalues, and singular values (at the undergraduate level), and the numerical range (and numerical radius), matrix norms, and majorization inequalities involving eigenvalues and singular values (at the graduate level). These studies all serve a common goal: to describe and understand the matrix as thoroughly as possible. In this talk, we present several inequalities involving a matrix A and its operator modulus ∣A∣, particularly in the context of their powers acting on the unit sphere (i.e., unit vectors)

Using Keystroke Dynamics Behavioral Biometrics To Identify Users, Bradley F. Budach

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study explores the use of keystroke dynamics as a behavioral biometric for user identification. Unlike physiological biometrics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, keystroke dynamics leverages the unique typing patterns of individuals to create a distinctive signature. This research was to develop a machine learning-based system that utilizes keystroke dynamics for continuous and unobtrusive user authentication. By collecting and analyzing keystroke data from multiple users, relevant features were extracted and used to train a machine learning model to identify user keystroke signatures with an equal error rate of 0.11. This model allows for reliable and scalable authentication that can …

Experimental Impacts Into Sloped Targets, J.L.B. Anderson, Tyler S.L. Kadrie, A.L. Miller, C.J. Cline Ii

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Asymmetric craters have been ob-served on sloped surfaces on the Moon [1] and extensively across Vesta [2] and Ceres [3]. For example, Lowell Crater (Fig. 1A) is a large crater on the surface of the Moon that has a small-er crater, Lowell H, which formed when an asteroid impacted the sloped surface of Lowell’s crater rim [1]. The topography map of Lowell H (Fig. 1B) shows the original sloped crater wall, the highly asymmetric and slumped Lowell H crater, and the debris flows that formed during its collapse.

Typically, impact cratering experiments are performed into smooth, flat-lying targets as a …

A Comparison Of The Bacterial Communities Of The Yamuna River (India) And Mississippi River (Usa), Jacob Gareis, Osvaldo Martinez, Silas Bergen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study compared the bacteria in the Yamuna River in India and the Mississippi River in the USA. Water samples were taken from 11 sites (2 in the Mississippi River and 9 in the Yamuna River). The bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Some phyla such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were seen in abundance regardless of country. However, principal-component analysis showed three distinct groupings: Mississippi/Ganga/Tons and other Yamuna River locations (7 sites), Yamuna River at Delhi (2 sites), Yamuna River below Glacier (2 sites) Additionally, the Yamuna River below Glacier had the highest bacterial diversity, with a Shannon …

Evaluating The Causal Effect Of Receiving Transthoracic Echocardiography On 28-Day Mortality In Mimic-Iii Intensive Care Unit Patients With Sepsis, Monserrath Velez, Jack O'Connor, Nicholas Della Pesca, Rio Baliga

Research & Creative Achievement Day

❏ Sepsis (an infection associated with vital organ dysfunction) is an emergent

medical condition estimated to occur in about 30% of intensive care unit

(ICU) patients[1] and is responsible for 20% of all deaths worldwide[2]

❏ Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE; an imaging modality that uses

ultrasound technology to record heart structure and function) is widely used in

medical treatment [3]

❏ 28-day mortality (whether or not a patient dies within 28 days after receiving a

treatment) is a measure considered to closely approximate ICU mortality[4]

Objectives

❏ Assess and quantify the causal effect of receiving a TTE on …

Plasma Profiling Reveals Proteins Specific To Primary Disease Origin Of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis, Thomas J. Pelowitz, Benjamin Hurr, Matthew Koster, Jaeyun Sung

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of scar-like tissue in the retroperitoneum, which can lead to life-threatening obstructive nephropathy. RPF is typically a secondary disease, arising from various underlying conditions. Currently, no objective and highly accurate diagnostic methods exist. Identifying blood protein biomarkers specific to RPF could facilitate the development of objective minimally invasive diagnostic tests.

In this study, blood plasma samples were collected from 45 participants spanning 5 different primary causes of RPF, including idiopathic cases where no underlying condition was identified. Six participants without significant diseases at the time of sample collection …

Geomorphic Monitoring Of Cedar Valley Creek: Investigating The Impact Of Restoration Projects And Stream Systems Over Time, Kyle Borske

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Streams and rivers are dynamic systems shaped by natural forces, but can be influenced by human intervention. This project focuses on Cedar Valley Creek to examine how geomorphic processes such as erosion, deposition, and sediment transport have been influenced over time by restoration efforts. By collecting data during field surveys, areas of instability will be identified and the effectiveness of the restoration project will be determined. This will give an understanding of the long term impacts of restoration projects and further insight on how to artificially maintain stream health.

An Exploration Of Simple Methods For The Purification And Separation Of Natural Curcuminoids, Eion S. Hinkle

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The separation of curcumin from other naturally occurring curcuminoids, such as demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, presents significant challenges due to their similar chemical structures. Conventional methods like column chromatography are energetically and environmentally costly, requiring large amounts of solvents and extended processing times. Alternatively, preparatory scale high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) offers high precision but necessitates expensive equipment, making it less accessible for routine laboratory use. This research explores simpler and more sustainable approaches to purify curcumin, aiming to reduce both the environmental impact and the financial burden associated with traditional separation techniques.

Impact Of Containerization On The Performance Web Applications With Docker, Amin Elkhalifa

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study aims to evaluate the performance impact of running a web application as a Docker container compared to running it natively. As Docker gains popularity in industry, it becomes increasingly important to understand the performance impact of containerization. This study aims to provide data that contributes to the decision-making process of building performance-sensitive applications. Gathering data consisted of building a web application, exposing an API endpoint, running tests and measuring the relevant performance metrics – CPU utilization and network response time – both in a native environment and within a Docker container. These findings confirm the introduction of overhead …

Using Multilayer Perceptron (Mlp) To Predict Crop Yields, Thomas M. Donnelly

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study aimed to develop a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) that accurately predicts crop yields within 10% of ground truth in 80% of cases using weather data, region, soil type, temperature, fertilizer, irrigation, days taken to harvest, and rail fall. The dataset has 1 million unique data points and 10 columns. In order to process the data, all Boolean data had to be converted to integers, Numerical data standardized, while Categorical data was checked for non-null values. The model will be trained using a random selection of 90% of the data for training and 10% for testing. The effectiveness of the …

Using Fluorimetry And Colorimetry For Quantitative Analysis For Biomaterial-Derived Carbon Dots, Kahun N. Vue

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The pursuit of sustainability in nanomaterial synthesis has led to the exploration of biomaterial-derived carbon dots (CDs) as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of CDs derived from various biomaterials, including shrimp shells, food waste, cellulose, keratin, and saccharides. By employing hydrothermal, microwave, and ultrasound-assisted synthesis techniques, this research aims to develop a green, cost-effective approach to producing CDs while reducing environmental impact.

Previous work used shrimp shells as a starting material for a green CD. This work starts with shrimp shells to ensure reproducibility. In the future, novel materials like food …