Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Scalable Methods For Performant Control Of Hyperfine Qubits In Atoms And Ions, Matthew N. H. Chow

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Qubits encoded within internal energy levels of atoms and ions have been used to demonstrate high-performance primitives of quantum computing for small numbers of qubits. Yet, the path to achieving sufficient size and fidelity for useful fault-tolerant quantum computation remains daunting. In this dissertation, I present several techniques I developed as steps along this path. These results include high-fidelity, low-loss detection for alkali atoms in optical tweezers, crosstalk-mitigated parallel one-qubit gates, robust entangling gates on trapped ions, and leakage-to-erasure conversion for non-destructive detection of atom loss errors. Through this collection of techniques, I have sought to make full use of …

Characterizing Unconserved Shallow Wetlands In Lamoure County, North Dakota, Nathan Watson

Scholars Week

Prior to modern agriculture, the plains of North and South Dakota were once a mixed grass prairie with millions of small ponds and wetlands. These wetlands provide summer breeding habitat for countless numbers of migrating bird species. Through the work of conservation organizations and Federal agencies, many of these wetlands have been restored across the Dakotas, Prairie Minnesota, and Iowa. This project focused on locating a county in an area of critical breeding habitat that has had, thus far, limited restoration of these small wetlands and determing their extent and quality using a Geographic Information System (GIS).

The study area …

A Secure And Effective Framework For Key Concept Mining From Educational Content Using Large Language Models, Ashika Sameem Abdul Rasheed

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis examines the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in education, with a focus on improving performance and implementing strong security measures. The research has two main goals, namely, the development of an effective lecture summarization technique using LLMs and identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in LLM applications according to OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) guidelines. For the former goal, we have proposed an effective framework for fine-tuning LLMs using real lecture datasets and compared the performance of different LLMs. For the latter goal, we conducted a thorough review of the application dataflow of the proposed framework and …

Pathways Of Participation: Community Engagement And Collaborative Adaptation In Disaster Contexts Across Diverse Environments, Ria Mukerji

Geography ETDs

This paper broadens the concept of effective community participation in disaster risk reduction by analyzing three case studies that emphasize unconventional, locally driven approaches. Using a multi-case study method, I examine forms of participation that challenge traditional top-down models and focus on local knowledge and community agency. In Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, a co-designed environmental data dashboard with Pueblo members demonstrates how integrating Indigenous knowledge can enhance disaster preparedness. The Soldados Dam case in Ecuador shows how power imbalances drive community stakeholders to become protestors, emphasizing the need for adaptive engagement to prevent conflict. In Pajaro, California, a marginalized community’s …

Automated Verification Of Compiler Transformations, Yanzhao Wang

Dissertations and Theses

The ever-growing complexity of software and its target hardware makes it increasingly challenging to develop reliable compilers that preserve the semantics of source code during compilation. Traditional testing methods often lack sufficient test coverage and fail to identify subtle errors and undefined behaviors that can lead to compiler malfunctions. Furthermore, while formal compiler certification ensures semantic preservation through theorem proving, the inherent complexity of this process makes re-certification after each compiler revision substantially labor-intensive. This often significantly hinders the improvement of compilers.

This research aims to bridge the gap between increasing compiler complexity and the limited scalability of formal verification …

Exploring The Journey Of Stem Faculty Into Justice-Centered Pedagogy, Desiree Forsythe, Bryan Dewsbury, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In higher education and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), interlocking oppressions can lead to inequitable environments for those who hold marginalized identities. Instructors can play key roles in either exacerbating or mitigating these inequities through their pedagogical approaches and choice of curricular material. However, it remains unclear how instructors who self-identify as committed to justice achieve higher levels of consciousness around areas of injustice and develop the self-efficacy to dismantle barriers for students over time. Here, we draw upon critical race theory and critical white studies to investigate what events or life experiences influence STEM instructors to understand the …

The Green Monster Hiding In Front Of Cas A: Jwst Reveals A Dense And Dusty Circumstellar Structure Pockmarked By Ejecta Interactions, Ilse De Looze, Dan Milisavljevic, Tea Temim, Danielle Dickinson, Robert Fesen, Richard G. Arendt, Judy Schmidt, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

JWST observations of the young Galactic supernova remnant Cassiopeia A revealed an unexpected structure seen as a green emission feature in colored composite MIRI F1130W and F1280W images—hence dubbed the Green Monster—that stretches across the central parts of the remnant in projection. Combining the kinematic information from NIRSpec and the MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph with the multiwavelength imaging from NIRCam and MIRI, we associate the Green Monster with circumstellar material (CSM) that was lost during an asymmetric mass-loss phase. MIRI images are dominated by dust emission, but their spectra show emission lines from Ne, H, and Fe with low radial …

Processing Of Pinger, Chirp, Boomer, And Parametric Subbottom Profiler Datasets, Aslihan Nasif

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Subbottom profiler (SBP) systems are commonly employed for geo-hazard analysis in offshore engineering studies. The joint analysis of multi-channel seismic and SBP data also provides additional information for analyzing submarine fluid-flow structures in shallow sediments. Detailed geo-hazard analyses also aim to reveal small-scale changes in the seafloor and the underlying structures. Therefore, the horizontal and vertical resolution of SBP data is a crucial parameter, and obtaining the necessary resolution requires appropriate data processing.This study analyzes the steps and parameters applied in processing pinger, Chirp, boomer, and parametric SBP data, to determine an optimal data processing flow and parameters. Compared to …

The Unfairness Of Fair Machine Learning: Leveling Down And Strict Egalitarianism By Default, Brent Mittelstadt, Sandra Wachter, Chris Russell

Michigan Technology Law Review

In recent years, fairness in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and algorithmic decision-making systems has emerged as a highly active area of research and development. To date, most measures and methods to mitigate bias and improve fairness in algorithmic systems have been built in isolation from policymaking and civil societal contexts and lack serious engagement with philosophical, political, legal, and economic theories of equality and distributive justice. Many current measures define “fairness” in simple terms to mean narrowing gaps in performance or outcomes between demographic groups while preserving as much of the original system’s accuracy as possible. This oversimplified …

The Implications Of Chatgpt For Legal Services And Society, Andrew Perlman

Michigan Technology Law Review

On November 30, 2022, OpenAI released a chatbot called ChatGPT.1 To demonstrate the chatbot’s sophistication and its potential implications, both for legal services and society more generally, most of this paper was generated in about an hour through prompts within ChatGPT. Only this abstract, the preface, the outline headers, the footnotes, the epilogue, and the prompts were written by a person. ChatGPT generated the rest of the text with no human editing. To be clear, the responses generated by ChatGPT were imperfect and at times problematic, and the use of an AI tool for law-related services raises a host of …

Anomalous Crustal Structure Beneath The Örenli-Eğiller Depression Zone, Inferred From Magnetotelluric Studies, Western Anatolia, Türkiye, Dornadula Chandrasekharam, Khasi Raju, Prabhala Bhaskhara Venkata Subba Rao, Alper Baba

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

In Türkiye, the prevalence of high radiogenic granites makes them ideal locations for initiating enhanced geothermal system (EGS) projects. One such occurrence of these granites is observed in the Kozak area of the Bergama region. To assess the energy potential of this site, a magnetotelluric (MT) survey was conducted, focusing on determining the depth distribution of the intrusive granite.The survey employed dimensionality analysis, utilizing Bahr skew and phase tensor analyses that denote a 2D subsurface nature up to 100 s and beyond that a 3D nature. In the present study, we interpreted MT data up to 100 s. The data …

Spectral Study Of Very-High-Energy Gamma Rays From Ss 433 With Hawc, R. Alfaro, C. Alvarez, J. C. Arteaga-Velázquez, D. Avila Rojas, H. A. Ayala Solares, R. Babu, S. Groetsch, P. Hüntemeyer, R. Turner, Zhenlin Wang, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Very-high-energy (0.1-100 TeV) gamma-ray emissions were observed in High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) data from the lobes of the microquasar SS 433, making them the first set of astrophysical jets that were resolved at TeV energies. In this work, we update the analysis of SS 433 using 2565 days of data from the HAWC observatory. Our analysis reports the detection of a point-like source in the east lobe at a significance of 6.6σ and in the west lobe at a significance of 8.2σ. For each jet lobe, we localize the gamma-ray emission and identify a best-fit position. The locations are close …

Stratigraphy And Geochronology Of The Eocene Volcanosedimentary Units In The Hekimhan-Darende (Malatya) Region: Implications For The Development Of The Gürün Curl, Emrah Yalçin Ersoy, Osman Candan, İbrahi̇m Uysal

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

We present new radiometric (Ar-Ar) age data from the volcanic rocks occurring in the Eocene strata in the Hekimhan and Gürün-Darende (Malaya) regions. The Eocene units in these regions are represented separately by the Tohma and Darende formations, respectively. The two basaltic volcanic interlayers in the Tohma Formation, occurring in the lower and upper parts of the succession yielded Ar-Ar isochron ages of 51.75±0.76 and 42.66±0.43 Ma, respectively, indicating a deposition age of Ypresian-Lutetian interval for the unit. The andesitic volcanic rocks in the basal parts of the Darende Formation yielded an Ar-Ar isochron age of 37.35±0.72 Ma, revealing that …

Butte Reduction Work (Brw) Phase Ii Interim Demolition Plan Construction Drawings And Floodplain Encroachment Analysis, Julia Crain

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Inferring Tlb Configuration With Performance Tools, Cristian Agredo, Tor J. Langehaug, Scott R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Modern computing systems are primarily designed for maximum performance, which inadvertently introduces vulnerabilities at the micro-architecture level. While cache side-channel analysis has received significant attention, other Central Processing Units (CPUs) components like the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) can also be exploited to leak sensitive information. This paper focuses on the TLB, a micro-architecture component that is vulnerable to side-channel attacks. Despite the coarse granularity at the page level, advancements in tools and techniques have made TLB information leakage feasible. The primary goal of this study is not to demonstrate the potential for information leakage from the TLB but to establish …

Accelerated Structure Formation: The Early Emergence Of Massive Galaxies And Clusters Of Galaxies, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

Galaxies in the early Universe appear to have grown too big too fast, assembling into massive, monolithic objects more rapidly than anticipated in the hierarchical Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) structure formation paradigm. The available photometric data are consistent with there being a population of massive galaxies that form early (z ≳ 10) and quench rapidly over a short (≲1 Gyr) timescale, consistent with the traditional picture for the evolution of giant elliptical galaxies. Similarly, kinematic observations as a function of redshift show that massive spirals and their scaling relations were in place at early times. Explaining the early emergence …

Final 2023 Bres Fsr And Caps, Butte-Silver Bow Department Of Reclamation And Environmental Services

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Engaging Students With Pocketlab Interactive Mobile Technology In A Science Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study, Olha Ketsman, Juan A. Colon Santana

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This mixed methods study explored the impact of PocketLab interactive mobile sensors on science content knowledge among undergraduate students in an algebra-based physics laboratory course. The study also examined students' perspectives and experiences using PocketLab to learn class concepts. While no statistically significant differences were found between the control and treatment groups for items evaluating definitions and conceptual mastery, the control group outperformed the treatment group on problem-solving items. This difference may be due to the alignment of traditional Vernier technology experiments with the analytical problem-solving approach emphasized in lectures. Despite this, students using PocketLab reported greater flexibility and …

Effect Of Virtual Reality Technology On Ce/Cs Based Laboratories Education – A, Mariam Abdulla Al Nuaimi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly popular in different fields, as institutions strive to incorporate technology into the education process. This thesis explores the effect of the use of VR on the users learning experience, and whether gamification, and human-computer interaction (HCI) affect the VR experience in a positive way. The main goal of this thesis is to explore the VR environment in STEM courses/Labs and investigate its effect on learning advanced topics. Specifically, we developed Digital Design & Computer Organization Lab (CS/CE Laboratory) as a VR environment to research this topic. We set and conducted experiments, surveyed participating students …

Exclusion Tests For Approximating All Solutions Of Nonlinear Equations, Yasmeen Omar Hamida

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The exclusion test is a mathematical technique used to isolate and approximate solutions of nonlinear equations within a defined interval. This thesis introduces a new exclusion test-based approach that aims to accelerate convergence to the zeros of nonlinear equations within a compact domain. By selecting Taylor, series, and Lipschitz test and solving nonlinear equations, the proposed method substantially reduces the number of subintervals necessary for accurate approximation. The primary contribution of this research is the development of a more efficient algorithm, which significantly improves the speed of convergence. These findings have meaningful implications for the field of numerical analysis, presenting …

On Fractional Dunkl-Type Laplacian, Saba Ibrahim Aldan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis provides a comprehensive study of the fractional Dunkl-type Laplacian operator (—llxllΔ_k) ^σ for 0 < σ < 1, focusing on four key equivalent characterizations: the heat semigroup approach, the pointwise formulation, the spherical mean representation, and through an extension theorem. A significant part of the thesis is devoted to the extension theorem, where, following the approach of Caffarelli and Silvestre for the Euclidean Laplacian, we prove that (—llxllΔ_k) ^σ can be characterized as an operator that maps a Dirichlet boundary condition to a Neumann-type condition via an extension PDE problem. Further, a Poisson formula for the extension was established. These four characterizations provide distinct perspectives on the operator llxllΔ_k, extending Euclidean Laplacian results to include reflection symmetries and revealing connections between the fractional operator (—llxllΔ_k) ^σ, harmonic analysis, and applications in mathematical physics and PDEs.

Scholar Perspectives On The Impact Of A Scientific Community Program For Neurodivergent Undergraduate Stem Scholars, Dylan Sullivan, Fernando Zavala, Derek Hidalgo, Jacob Stolle, Rebecca Matte, Christin B. Monroe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Despite the adaptive strengths and unique problem-solving skills demonstrated by neurodivergent (ND) individuals, they remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. High unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities emphasize the need for addressing barriers to entry and persistence in the workforce. This study introduces a program designed to enhance opportunities for neurodivergent STEM scholars with financial needs, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program involves: 1) a weekly cohort course to engage in professional development, 2) use of the Birkman Method® survey to help scholars identify and communicate strengths, fostering self-awareness and growth, and 3) …

Third Ward Casper 2023 Final Report, Zuri Dale, Vishnu Nepal, Debra Maxwell, Ashlee Young

COVID Research

The 2023 Third Ward CASPER Final Report conducted by Texas Southern University (TSU) and the Houston Health Department assessed public health conditions in Houston's Third Ward community. The initiative utilized the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology to gather household-based data, informing public health decisions, emergency responses, and future resource allocation.

Objective and Key Findings: The mission aimed to assess health needs, promote health resources, and build community relationships. Notable findings include that over 36% of households reported hypertension, while 19% experienced poor mental health. Access barriers to healthcare persisted, particularly due to lack of insurance. Nearly …

Assessing Economic Losses With Covid-19 Integrated Models: A Retrospective Analysis, Timothy Robin Teng, Elvira De Lara-Tuprio, Joselito T. Sescon, Cymon Kayle Lubangco, Rolly Czar Joseph T. Castillo, Mark Anthony C. Tolentino, Maria Regina Justina E. Estuar, Lenard Paulo V. Tamayo, Christian E. Pulmano

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global crisis that forced governments to implement restrictive measures to control the spread of the disease. Although these restrictions, such as community quarantines, played a pivotal role in stabilizing healthcare systems, they also caused forced closures of various economic sectors that resulted in huge societal costs and severely impacted the marginalized. In order to understand and quantify the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, an integrated modeling approach, which combined an epidemiological compartmental model and an economic model, was utilized. The evolving nature of COVID-19 required continuous updating of the integrated …

The Effects Of Sunlight On The Decomposition Rate Of Opuntia Humifusa, Paul George, Elena Amonette, Celine W. Seder, Katherine Massaro

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Plant decomposition plays a critical role in community and ecosystem ecology by recycling minerals and returning nutrients to the soil. The rate of plant decomposition can be impacted by a multitude of factors including chemical composition of the plant, presence of decomposing microorganisms, temperature, and more. This study sought to quantify the effects of sunlight on plant decomposition. In this project, Opuntia humifusa (prickly pear) were placed outside on the Belmont greenroof to decompose in sunny and shaded environments. The plants were collected over a period of 12 weeks, and data on the masses of the decomposing plants was used …

How Leaf Size Affects Rate Of Leaf Litter Decomposition On A Greenroof, Douglass J. Lescher I, Makenzie T. Boylston, Faith A. Jackson, Leah Abraham, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Leaf litter decomposition is an essential biological phenomenon that occurs within ecosystems, as it affects factors such as nutrient cycling, plant growth, soil fertility and other processes. Understanding the mechanisms that are attributed to leaf litter decomposition can help explain the role that leaf litter plays in ecosystems. A total of eight leaf litter bags were placed in environments of similar conditions on a green roof with the purpose of understanding how leaf size affects the rate of decomposition. The two species of variable size were coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis, larger leaf) and baptisia (Baptisia australis, smaller …

Protonation Of Terbium Complexes As A Possible Chemical Sensor, Sean W. Murray

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Upon ultraviolet excitation, terbium(III)-ligand complexes exhibit strong yellow-green fluorescence in accordance with the antenna effect. Recent studies in our laboratory show remarkable quenching of the emission signature upon exposure of homoleptic complexes to water or mineral acids. The changes are completely reversible under mild conditions, suggesting possible applications as a chemical sensor. Following the synthesis of [Tb(pydm)3](NO3)3 (pydm = 2,6-pyridine dimethanol), the complex was titrated with HCl and the changing absorption spectra of the complex was monitored through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Further, we have purified and characterized this product through 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. A deeper understanding of the reactions causing the …

Search For Joint Multimessenger Signals From Potential Galactic Cosmic-Ray Accelerators With Hawc And Icecube, R. Alfaro, C. Alvarez, J. C. Arteaga-Velázquez, D. Avila Rojas, H. A. Ayala Solares, R. Babu, S. Groetsch, Petra Huentemeyer, R. Turner, X. Wang, Et. Al

Michigan Tech Publications

The origin of high-energy galactic cosmic rays is yet to be understood, but some galactic cosmic-ray accelerators can accelerate cosmic rays up to PeV energies. The high-energy cosmic rays are expected to interact with the surrounding material or radiation, resulting in the production of gamma-rays and neutrinos. To optimize for the detection of such associated production of gamma-rays and neutrinos for a given source morphology and spectrum, a multimessenger analysis that combines gamma-rays and neutrinos is required. In this study, we use the MultiMission Maximum Likelihood framework with IceCube Maximum Likelihood Analysis software and HAWC Accelerated Likelihood to search for …

Enhancing Chemotherapy: Synergistic Action Of Cisplatin And Berberine Hydrochloride Against Osteosarcoma, Adam S. Al-Droubi, Andrea Florian

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer, is notably aggressive and prone to a rapid rate of metastasis. When the tumor is localized; the survival rate is approximately 76% and can often be treated with surgery. However, once metastasis occurs, the survival rate drops to 24% and must be treated with chemotherapy. The standard treatment for metastatic osteosarcoma typically involves combination therapeutics, with cisplatin being a key component despite its severe side effects. Unfortunately, osteosarcoma exhibits a natural resistance to chemotherapy driven by the overexpression of drug efflux pumps, DNA repair mechanisms, and apoptosis avoidance mutations. To address these …

11.11.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Radiation Safety Committee Updates

Getting Started with PIVOT_RP

Small Grants Program