Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Comparing Climate Growth Of Oak And Tulip Poplar Species In Bernheim Forest, Kentucky, Usa Using Dendrochronological Methods, Jacob G. Brown, Jordan Sharp, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

Jordan Sharp and Jacob Brown

Department of Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Louisville

Title: Comparing Climate Growth of Oak and Tulip Poplar Species in Bernheim Forest, Kentucky, USA using Dendrochronological Methods

Abstract:

With climate change, the state of Kentucky is expected to face increases in hydrological variability and extremes. To understand more about future projections, past climatic conditions can be analyzed with proxy-based data sources. Tree-rings provide annual to sub-annual resolution that can be used for proxy-based climate reconstructions. Kentucky, however, lacks tree-ring data and this leaves the state understudied from a high temporal and spatial resolution paleo perspective. …

Investigating Drought Response And Paleoclimate Potential Of A New Network Of White Oak Chronologies In Western Kentucky, Usa, Audrey J. Heichelbech, Megan Gibson, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

In Kentucky, historic and paleo-climate data are limited, and current understanding of long-term climate change in the state relies on instrumental data spanning only 1895-present. Proxy data are necessary to extend the temporal and spatial span of climate information. One potential proxy source for Kentucky is tree ring data, but currently, only four such datasets are publicly available on the International Tree Ring Data Bank (ITRDB). Archaeological and archival timber sources may help to fill in this gap. In the 1940s, Florence Hawley-Ellis, the first woman dendrochronologist, collected samples of white oak (Quercus alba L.) from four counties in western …

Studying Organic Chemistry Students’ Scientific Modeling Practices Through A Semi-Structured Interview, Daniel Mays, Morgan Balabanoff

The Cardinal Edge

Many areas of natural science deal with unobservable phenomena. Scientists develop and use models to make sense of these aspects of nature. Chemistry is certainly no exception – in fact, given the molecular nature of chemical interactions, the modern understanding of chemistry is largely based on well-established scientific models. Because models are so important in chemistry, understanding how students develop and use models in the learning process stands to offer key insights into how to better teach chemistry. This project is focused on exploring how students of organic chemistry develop and use scientific models to predict the outcome of reactions. …

Investigating Factors Influencing Science Student Retention, Hayley Benson, Morgan Balabanoff

The Cardinal Edge

Retention in and across STEM degrees has been a significant problem across institutions. By the time students have reached their third year, the University of Louisville has lost over 50% of the students who entered as first-year students.

The main objective of this study is to investigate variables such as sense of belonging, student’s mindset, and science identity and their relationship with retention in STEM degrees. While many studies have identified gaps among student groups across these variables, few studies have generated solutions to address these gaps. Further, the proposed solutions are often from the viewpoint of researchers and upper …

Sustainable Flight Training Schools And Their Role To Meet Net Zero Targets, Eva Maleviti

Sustainability Conference

This presentation is part of a wider research project to identify the elements that must be considered regarding flight training schools’ role in aviation sustainability. Net Zero Pathways and goals, emission schemes, design specifications, and sustainable fuels are some of the most popular changes for airlines and manufacturers. Flight training schools must be at the forefront of promoting aviation sustainability to tomorrow’s professionals. The ICAO Carbon Offsetting Requirement Scheme for International Airlines (CORSIA) relies heavily on the firm and reliable information in the operators’ system. Proper emission calculation requires flight crews to feed valid and accurate flight information data. Hence, …

Evaluating Trauma-Informed Design In A Mental Health Setting: A Community-Based Research Case Study, Marie Spence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study utilized a community-based research framework to explore how the Trauma-Informed Design framework can be implemented in a mental health setting. This study focused on the site of Empower Therapy Practice, a private mental health practice in the Denver Metro Area, to engage clients and staff to participate in advisory boards and inform the interior design of a new office space. To explore the application of Trauma-Informed Design, participants engaged in a variety of research activities, including an evaluative questionnaire, Photovoice, and focus group. Advisory board members identified various aspects of Trauma-Informed Design which meaningfully translate to therapeutic …

Designing Customized Loss Functions For Training Deep Neural Networks, Ali Pourramezan Fard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the critical role of loss functions in enhancing the predictive performance of deep machine learning models. Loss functions are an integral element of all the ongoing advances we witness daily in this domain. I design custom loss functions and their impacts on various machine learning tasks, particularly in computer vision.

In the first stage of my research, I aim to improve the prediction performance of deep learning models by providing them with more precise feedback associated with task requirements. This led me to create the concept of assistive loss functions. My first proposed loss function, inspired by …

An Overview Of Generative Ai Initiatives At Minnesota State University, Mankato (So Far), Evan Rusch, Nat Gustafson-Sundell

Library Services Publications

At Minnesota State University, Mankato, we’ve undertaken several experiments and initiatives focused on Generative Artificial Intelligence. We provided several examples at the Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) conference. For this presentation, we provided a revised and expanded overview of our initiatives for the Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians (NOTSL) Fall General Meeting. We explained license-related restrictions on uses of AI. We discussed the limitations of the retrieval-augmented generation tools currently available in the library. We summarized how we’ve tested ChatBots to support licensing and we showed how we’ve tried to use AI to improve data visualization for collections outreach. We …

The Impact Of Cumulative And Acute Loading On Achilles Tendon Health, Performance, And Reported Pain In Collegiate Gymnasts, Julio Serrano Samayoa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gymnasts are at a high risk of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries due to intense loads during takeoffs and landings. To better understand better the relationship between impact loading and its effects on tendon adaptation and athletic performance, this study uses Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to track AT loading across a collegiate gymnastics season. This data were compared against physiological and athletic performance metrics, obtained through force plates and ultrasound imaging, to explore how mechanical load influences reported pain and athletic performance. Results varied, with cumulative impacts being correlated with improved jump height (Spearman 0.362, Pearson 0.348), while peak power and …

Financialization And Price Volatility: An Empirical Analysis On Speculation In The Oil Market, Audry F. Oliveira Carnivale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Financialization has facilitated the trade of futures contracts because of deregulatory policies increasing speculation. Speculation has created a more fragile market inducing riskier investments and aggravating price volatility. Three post-Keynesian theories, the financial instability hypothesis, money manager capitalism and markup, explain how policy altering the banking structure has developed financialization from lax regulation. Previous research has emphasized supply and demand as the main determinants of oil price changes, but it’s important to consider how structural changes from policy stimulating a more financialized economy has impacted volatility. With Brent Crude oil price data and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) open interest and …

Security Vulnerabilities In Mobile Operating Systems Used In Iot Devices: An Examination Of Current Challenges And Countermeasures, Isain Cortes Jr.

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

No abstract provided.

Predicting Cloud-To-Ground Lightning In The Western United States From The Large-Scale Environment Using Explainable Neural Networks, Dmitri A. Kalashnikov, Frances V. Davenport, Zachary M. Labe, Paul C. Loikith, John T. Abatzoglou, Deepti Singh

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Lightning is a major source of wildfire ignition in the western United States (WUS). We build and train convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to predict the occurrence of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning across the WUS during June-September from the spatial patterns of seven large-scale meteorological variables from reanalysis (1995-2022). Individually trained CNN models at each 1° × 1° grid cell ( = 285 CNNs) show high skill at predicting CG lightning days across the WUS (median AUC = 0.8) and perform best in parts of the interior Southwest where summertime CG lightning is most common. Further, interannual correlation between observed and predicted …

A Class Of Stable Nonlinear Non-Hermitian Skin Modes, Hamed Ghaemi-Dizicheh

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) is a well-known phenomenon in open topological systems that causes a large number of eigenstates to become localized at the boundary. Although many aspects of its theory have been investigated in linear systems, this phenomenon remains novel in nonlinear models. In the first step of this paper, we look at the conditions for the presence of quasi-skin modes in a semi-infinite, one-dimensional, nonlinear, nonreciprocal lattice. In the following phase, we explore the survival time of the quasi-skin mode in a finite nonlinear lattice with open edges. We study the dependency of the survival time on …

Investigating The Role Of Tetherin Protein In Multivesicular Bodies Fusions In Lung Cancer Cells, Md. Rakib Miah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cells rely on the secretion of exosomes to communicate with one another and this process is potentially mediated by a protein called tetherin, which anchors exosomes to the cell surface to limit their spread. Tetherin protein has attracted a lot of attention because of its capacity to hinder the propagation of viruses by attaching virions to the surface of host cells. Treatment with interferon-alpha (IFNα) increases the production of tetherin, although it is not known how this affects tetherin localization and exosome-mediated communication. This thesis looks at how the expression of tetherin, which IFNα boosts, affects the dynamics of intercellular …

Invertebrate Functional Diversity Of Fossils From Arrow Canyon, Nevada, Nathaniel Valentine

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Paleontology can be used to study how ecosystems evolve and respond to changes in the environment. Here we examine invertebrate fossils from the Pennsylvanian, a time period that ranged from 323.2 to 298.9 million years ago, which are preserved along the walls of Arrow Canyon (Nevada) in the Bird Spring Formation. We surveyed three sites within the canyon, and used data from the Paleobiology Database to create a list of taxa found on the canyon from this time interval. Although ecosystems have traditionally been studied using the composition of the ecosystem (the number of species), recent work has shown that …

Potential Cell Preservation In Mars-Relevant Clay Minerals, Hanford Gerille Gonzales, Leena M. Cycil, Elisabeth Hausrath

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

This study investigates the potential of Fe-nontronite, a clay mineral found on Mars, to preserve biological cells and retain biosignatures such as trace metals. The research explores the preservation potential of nontronite by reacting it with cells under the following conditions: 1) reacting cells with nontronite precursors at low temperature and 2) reacting cells with the already synthesized nontronite made at high temperature. Microbial species Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter metallireducens, known for their relevance to iron-rich environments, were introduced in intact and lysed forms to assess their interactions with each condition of nontronite. Preliminary results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) …

Hurricane Evacuation: Navigating Uncertainty During Covid 19 And With Existing Communication Scales, And Considering Public And Expert Perception Of Alternative Scales, Leilani D. Paxton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of current hurricane warning products and communication strategies, exploring factors influencing public perception of risk and decision-making during evacuations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data, focus group discussions, and interviews with meteorologists and emergency managers. The first paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hurricane risk perception and evacuation decisions. Findings indicate that while COVID-19 concerns played a role in some individuals' decisions, particularly those with pets or concerns about shelter conditions, the majority of participants evacuated for Hurricane Ian. The study highlights the importance of providing clear, consistent, and …

Chemical And Structural Design Of Single Molecule Switches, Elaina Grogg

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

No abstract provided.

Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final Quarterly Operations And Maintenance Report Butte Treatment Lagoon System – Third Quarter 2023 (Dated October 15, 2024), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Applying Machine‐Learning Methods To Laser Acceleration Of Protons: Lessons Learned From Synthetic Data, Ronak Desai, Thomas Zhang, J. J. Felice, Ricky Oropeza, Joseph R. Smith, Alona Kryshchenko, Chris Orban, Michael L. Dexter, Anil K. Patnaik

Faculty Publications

In this study, we consider three different machine-learning methods—a three-hidden-layer neural network, support vector regression, and Gaussian process regression—and compare how well they can learn from a synthetic data set for proton acceleration in the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration regime. The synthetic data set was generated from a previously published theoretical model by Fuchs et al. 2005 that we modified. Once trained, these machine-learning methods can assist with efforts to maximize the peak proton energy, or with the more general problem of configuring the laser system to produce a proton energy spectrum with desired characteristics. In our study, we focus …

Autonomous Driving Trajectory Prediction, Carlos Funes

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Autonomous driving is undoubtedly one of the world's most revolutionary technologies, opening the door to a more secure traffic environment. This innovation has led to vehicles being able to drive by themselves without the necessity of a person behind the wheel, as well as cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of work before autonomous driving becomes more popular among drivers. While at UNLV as an undergraduate student/research assistant, one of my goals is to learn how these technologies work to bring ideas into the automotive industry by refining solutions to problems within these …

It's Not As Bad As You Think: Detecting Ai-Generated Voices, Yong Qin Xu

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Advances in machine learning have opened up the world to a brand new frontier of fraudulent phone calls which the average person may not be in any way prepared for. From imitations of a loved one's voice to lifelike mimicry of human callers, telephone scams may become harder than ever to anticipate or prevent now that criminals have the help of AI on their side. This is why in my research paper, I aim to analyze and compare two existing methods of detecting the authenticity of human voice recordings in order to demonstrate and explain currently available technology that's capable …

Climate Change And Its Effects On Maternal Mental Health, Sara Cordero

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns primarily caused by human activities, which have facilitated more climate crises, such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. They tend to have the greatest effect on vulnerable populations, such as women and children. This study is aimed to view how climate change-related environmental stressors impact the mental health and well-being of mothers. A scoping literature review approach was used by analyzing scientific databases (i.e. APA-Psycinfo, Scopus, PRIMO) to find peer-reviewed papers that studied the effects of extreme weather events and climate change on maternal mental health. Results suggest that hurricanes, …

A Simple And Low-Cost Method For Generating Short Laser Pulses, Daniel Fisher

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A simple, portable method is described and demonstrated for generating short optical pulses (~ 1 μsec) from a continuous wave (CW) source using a rotating pinhole. A CW 633nm HeNe beam was focused onto a 225 μm diameter stainless steel pinhole, which was rotated up to 1000 Hz using an optical chopper wheel. The pulsed light was then focused onto a silicon photodetector and read by an oscilloscope. This novel setup aims to bridge the gap between pulsed laser performance and price for wide application in spectroscopy methods, industrial laser peening, and medical treatments. This will be the first publication …

Impact Of Young Biocrust On Dryland Surface Albedo, Rhynhardt Mudde, Rebekah Magness, Raul Roman, Nicole Pietrasiak

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

More than 40% of the Earth’s surface is covered by drylands. Due to limited availability of water, less surface area is covered by vascular plants. Instead, this space is occupied by microbial communities that exist in close contact with mineral soil, creating a living aggregate on the upper soil layer and are known collectively as biological soil crusts or “biocrusts”. Biocrusts play a vital role in ecosystem functioning in drylands specifically through their influence on hydrological processes (e.g., water retention, infiltration). However, the impact of biocrusts on evaporation is not well understood. Biocrusts have been reported to either increase or …

Assessing Ectomycorrhizal Advantage On Tree Species Within Differing Soil Materials In Spring Mountains, Nevada, Kirsten Soriano, Riley Jones, Daniel Thompson

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) form symbiotic relationships with their partner plant, creating root systems which allow for the exchange of nutrients among connected plants. The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) in Southern Nevada is the study site for examining ECMs due to its diverse ecosystem with numerous inhabiting species. To assess the effects of ECMs on the tree composition, literature review was conducted to outline previous methods. Through data analysis and observations of the sample sites, it is concluded that ECMs are highly likely to have an effect on tree composition of the Spring Mountains NRA. The purpose of this …

Utilizing A Hybrid Apprach To Link Maternal And Neonatal Records, Vidhani S. Goel, Ana Reyes, Bertille Assoumou, Dodds P. Simangan, Farooq Abdulla, Megumi Akiyama, Deborah A. Kuhls, Kavita Batra

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Linkage of independent datasets allows comprehensive and robust analysis. This study aims to utilize a hybrid strategy to link maternal records with neonatal data with an overarching goal of investigating correlates of adverse birth outcomes.

To link 126,757 records from Nevada Medicaid with 249,181 maternal records from Birth Registry, a hybrid linkage approach was utilized. Data normalization was first performed for the standardization of linkage keys. First, a deterministic approach was used to link these records using a unique identifier followed by a fuzzy or probabilistic algorithm using a set of block variables. These block variables included date of birth, …

Effects Of Fire Temperatures On Mojave Desert Native And Nonnative Seeds, Sophia Lorenzana, Lindsay Chiquoine

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Large-scale wildfires have been historically rare in hot deserts like the Mojave, largely due to the scarcity or uneven distribution of native plant biomass as fuel. Thus, native plants in these regions are ill-adapted to withstand spreading wildfire, resulting in slow post-fire recovery. Here, I test the hypothesis that nonnative grasses respond better to heat cues than native plant species. Seeds from 3 invasive and 13 native plant species were collected from research sites located in the eastern Mojave Desert, near surrounding Clark County Flood Control District weather stations. Seeds were buried in an artificial substrate mimicking field soil conditions …

Characterizing The Mechanical And Visoelastic Properties Of Sodium Alginate, Vesper Evereux

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A crucial part of tissue engineering lies in understanding and characterizing the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of various types of biomaterials. Understanding these properties allows better biomaterials to be produced with characteristics more similar to those of the human body and with better biocompatability. In this study, sodium alginate was chemically crosslinked with calcium chloride and subsequently tested for it's instantaneous Elastic Modulus, instantaneous Shear Modulus, and equivalent viscosity using indentation testing methods consisting of a stress-relaxation test and nonlinear curve-fitting analysis. Two and three millimeter indentation tests were performed using a low-cost and portable device built in-lab that resulted …

Detection Of Methane Leaks By The Use Of Mid-Range Infrared Camera, Jared Rosario, Oscar Salcido

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Timely detection of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure, like pipelines and valves, is essential for mitigating environmental and safety risks. This research focuses on using mid-wave infrared (MwIR) cameras on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect leaks. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to develop an efficient, real-time methane inspection system that operates directly on embedded processors on UAS platforms.

This project employs the FLIR G300a OGI camera for remote gas inspection, utilizing video preprocessing and optical flow to mask gas plumes in footage. The YOLOv8 deep learning model is used to detect gas pixels and segment the …