Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Sliding Markov Decision Processes For Dynamic Task Planning On Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, Trent Wiens

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mission and flight planning problems for uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) are typically large and complex in space and computational requirements. With enough time and computing resources, some of these problems may be solvable offline and then executed during flight. In dynamic or uncertain environments, however, the mission may require online adaptation and replanning. In this work, we will discuss methods of creating MDPs for online applications, and a method of using a sliding resolution and receding horizon approach to build and solve Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) in practical planing applications for UASs. In this strategy, called a Sliding Markov Decision …

The Kruger Collection Reimagined: A Case Study In 3d Scanning And Interactive Exhibit Design, Annissa Davis

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

This thesis examines the use of 3D modeling in museum exhibition to create exploratory exhibits that facilitate unique relationships between the visitors and the collection beyond what is provided by the collection’s in person counterparts. Typical use of 3D modeling in museums is currently often representative rather than exploratory. By employing a Digital Humanities lens to approach the development of a digital exhibition utilizing 3D technology and interactive elements created in a video game engine (Unity), this thesis project evaluates these potential new relationships. Using the Eloise Kruger Collection of Miniatures as a case study, the following text details the …

Geochemical Analysis Of Basement Rock As A Potential Metal Source In Mississippi Valley-Type Ores, Southern Midcontinent U.S.A., Mackenzie Moorhead

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) ores are epigenetic, sedimentary hydrothermal base metal deposits that exist worldwide with type localities in the midcontinent United States. These Permian-aged sulfide ores represent an extraordinary concentration of economic metals, Pb and Zn. Ore deposits occur in vast districts that have a rich mining history. The Pb and Zn from these deposits account for 24% of worldwide reserves. The geologic processes responsible for MVT ore genesis are not fully understood, especially the sourcing of ore constituents. In the midcontinent, the Ouachita Orogeny expelled saline hydrothermal brines in response to high rates of subsidence. These fluids migrated through …

Temporal Trends And Dental Metric Variation In The Macaca Sylvanus Lineage, Cristina Stan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The extensive collection of fossil macaques from Europe, spanning from the Late Miocene to the Late Pleistocene period, is believed to be of the species Macaca sylvanus. However, there has been a prolonged discussion regarding the classification of these specimens into a single taxonomic group as the existing dental sample exhibits a large amount of morphological and metric variation. Specifically, researchers have attempted to identify multiple subspecies based on chronological data of the paleontological locality and, secondly, based on dental metric variation. In this study, I assess temporal trends in the fossil record of Macaca sylvanus and compare overall variation …

Two Studies: Aromatization-Driven Ring Opening Functionalization Of Unstrained Cycloalkanones Through Visible Light Catalysis, And Synthesis Of Amino Endoperoxides Using Self-Doped Titanium Dioxide (Ti3+@Tio2) As A Photocatalyst, Enoch Kudoahor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The pharmaceutical industry has been focused on discovering new innovative drugs over the last decade, but the syntheses are either inefficient or the approach to environmental sustainability raises significant concerns. Photochemistry and photocatalysis have found widespread applications in organic synthesis as a result of this pressing issue. Our role as organic chemists is to improve environmental quality by creating a "greener" world through the development of efficient synthetic methods and strategies. Solar energy is now one of the most abundant and renewable natural resources. The emergence of environmental sustainability concerns has led to the development of new techniques for harnessing …

Approximation Via Degree Reduction Of Nonlinearities With Applications To Turbulent Flows, Flame Fronts, And Magnetohydrodynamics, Matthew Enlow

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

We perform an analytical and computational investigation on the effectiveness of a locally bounded truncation function, which we call a calming function, when applied to the nonlinear terms of several dissipative partial differential equations. In particular, the 3D Navier-Stokes equations of incompressible fluid flow, the 2D Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations of laminar flame fronts, and the 2D MHD-Boussinesq equations of magnetohydrodynamics. Each of these equations have open questions about the global existence and uniqueness of their solutions. These calming functions effectively reduce the algebraic degree of select nonlinear terms, thus one can verify global wellposedness for these "calmed systems." More specifically, in …

Characterizing The Role Of Chemo-Mechanical Couplings In The Activation Process Of Proteins That Undergo Conformational Changes, Ugochi Isu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proteins are not static entities; rather, they are dynamic macromolecules that undergo conformational changes to perform their biological functions. These structural transitions are often coupled to chemical events such as lipid interactions, or changes in the cellular environment. Understanding the intricate interplay between chemical perturbations and the resulting mechanical response is crucial for elucidating the activation mechanisms of proteins. This dissertation aims to characterize the role of chemo-mechanical couplings in the activation process of two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 1 (mGluR1). We employ molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the conformational landscapes of …

Sports Science: An Entrepreneurial Venture, Nicole J. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

In sports science, ensuring maximum athlete safety and optimizing data utilization are pivotal yet leave room for further work. My project, Unbeaten SafeWare, addresses these critical issues by focusing on two primary concerns: preventing heat-related and cardiac illnesses, which are significant causes of athlete fatalities, and enhancing the transparency and utility of sports data. This initiative involves developing a shirt integrated with sensors to monitor vital signs and an athlete management system to handle data input, storage, analysis, and accessibility for athletes.

The project has advanced through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, which includes biomedical engineering undergraduates, two faculty …

Comparing The Regulatory Effects Of Overexpressed Micrornas And Xenobiotic Drugs On Cell Cycle And Apoptotic Regulators In Pc-3 Cells, Tommie Johnson

Dissertations (2016-Present)

MicroRNA was first discovered in C. elegans as small temporal RNA (stRNA) that does not code for protein. Since being discovered they have played a significant role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are found in various organisms, and they bind to the 3' untranslated regions to inhibit translation and cause mRNA degradation. Some drugs are involved in cell cycle regulation such as Palbociclib, Ribociclib (LEE011), and Abemaciclib (LY2835219), that causes G1 arrest impeding cell proliferation. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is supported by the cell cycle making it into a functional product. When undergoing a chemical reaction, the …

Student Self-Efficacy And Attitude In Organic Chemistry: A Comparison Of Two Pedagogical Approaches, Matthew Autry

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Draft Final 2023 Bpsou Subdrain Data Summary Report (Dsr), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Sheep Grazing Influences The Abundance, Diversity, And Community Composition Of Wild Bees And Other Insects In Livestock Pastures, Roshani Sharma Acharya, Timothy B. Leslie, Joan Burke, Kusum Naithani, Emily Fitting, Kelly Loftin, Neelendra K. Joshi

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pollinators contribute to the establishment of perennial native forages, but little is known about the effect of grazing practices on pollinator abundance and diversity in livestock pasture ecosystems. Grazing reduces floral resources available to bees and other insects, and as a result, may influence their communities. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of sheep grazing on bees and other non-bee insects in livestock pasture established with seed mixes of native forb/legume/grass and warm season grasses. Each pasture was divided into two halves (in a split-plot design) using an electric fence in which one plot was …

Utilizing Electrical Geophysical Methods To Map Mycorrhizal Mycelium Networks Non-Invasively, Donald Pesonen

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Mycorrhizal mycelium networks are a key component to forest health. These networks act as a transportation system for nutrients, are major players in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and can provide some level of drought resistance to the surrounding flora. Due to the location and size of these network’s filaments, studying mycelium non-invasively has been difficult. The alternative method of laboratory grown samples, lacks the important environmental factors that play into the growth and development of mycelium. Mycelium’s inherent conductivity and moisture retention allows for these networks to be a viable target for electrical geophysical equipment. CMD-Tiny, a small shallow depth …

A Comparative Analysis Of Field Electron Emission From Carbon Black Embedded Within Insulated Copper Hollowed Wires And Glass Tubes, Hatem A. Al-Braikat, Ahmad M D Jaber, Adel M. Abuamr, Mazen A. Madanat, Aseel A. Al-Jbarart, M-Ali H. Al-Akhras, Marwan S. Mousa

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this study, two different methods are used to investigate carbon black as a cold field electron emitter. The first method is to incorporate carbon black into a specially designed insulated copper hollowed wire. The wire has a cup-shaped structure created by electrochemical etching. The second method involves the incorporation of carbon black into narrow glass tubes. A Comparative analyses is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of each method. To evaluate the performance of the samples, the current-voltage characteristics will be examined using field electron microscopes. This analysis will provide an understanding of the emission of the carbon black …

Philosophy In Science: Can Philosophers Of Science Permeate Through Science And Produce Scientific Knowledge?, Thomas Pradeu, Maël Lemoine, Mahdi Khelfaoui, Yves Gingras

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

Most philosophers of science do philosophy ‘on’ science. By contrast, others do philosophy ‘in’ science (PinS), that is, they use philosophical tools to address scientific problems and to provide scientifically useful proposals. Here, we consider the evidence in favour of a trend of this nature. We proceed in two stages. First, we identify relevant authors and articles empirically with bibliometric tools, given that PinS would be likely to infiltrate science and thus to be published in scientific journals (‘intervention’), cited in scientific journals (‘visibility’), and sometimes recognized as a scientific result by scientists (‘contribution’). We show that many central figures …

Upcycling Of Sugar Refining Mud Solid Waste As A Novel Adsorbent For Removing Methylene Blue And Congo Red From Wastewater, Aly Reda Aly, Abdel Ghafar El-Demerdash, Wagih Sadik, Essam El Rafy, Tamer Shoeib

Faculty Journal Articles

The feasibility of utilizing the mud solid waste (MSW) produced during the carbonation process of sugar refining as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for the water removal of methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR), being highly utilized organic dyes representing cationic and anionic species, respectively is presented. Prior to its use, the MSW was dried at 110 °C for 24 h and sieved through a 100-mesh screen. The chief constituent of the MSW utilized was CaCO3, with a point of zero charge (PZC) found at pH 8.4 and 7.96 m2 g−1 total surface area. XRD and FTIR data …

Mir4435-2hg As A Possible Novel Predictive Biomarker Of Chemotherapy Response And Death In Pediatric B-Cell All, Yulieth Torres-Llanos, Jovanny Zabaleta, Nataly Cruz-Rodriguez, Sandra Quijano, Paula Carolina Guzmán, Iliana De Los Reyes, Nathaly Poveda-Garavito, Ana Infante, Liliana Lopez-Kleine, Alba Lucía Combita

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Although B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) survival rates have improved in recent years, Hispanic children continue to have poorer survival rates. There are few tools available to identify at the time of diagnosis whether the patient will respond to induction therapy. Our goal was to identify predictive biomarkers of treatment response, which could also serve as prognostic biomarkers of death, by identifying methylated and differentially expressed genes between patients with positive minimal residual disease (MRD+) and negative minimal residual disease (MRD-). Methods: DNA and RNA were extracted from tumor blasts separated by immunomagnetic columns. Illumina MethlationEPIC and mRNA …

Investigating Turbulence Distribution In The Lower Atmosphere Using Time-Lapse Imagery From A Camera Bank, Benjamin C. Wilson, Santasri R. Bose-Pillai, Jack E. Mccrae, Steven T. Fiorino, Robert P. Freeman, Laura R. Slabaugh

Faculty Publications

The atmosphere’s surface layer (first 50–100 m above the ground) is extremely dynamic and is influenced by surface radiative properties, roughness, and atmospheric stability. Understanding the distribution of turbulence in the surface layer is critical to many applications, such as directed energy and free space optical communications. Several measurement campaigns in the past have relied on weather balloons or sonic detection and ranging (SODAR) to measure turbulence up to the atmospheric boundary layer. However, these campaigns had limited measurements near the surface. We have developed a time-lapse imaging technique to profile atmospheric turbulence from turbulence-induced differential motion or tilts between …

Inference For Time Series In Change Points And Statistical Learning, Jiaqi Li

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework for inference theory in time series, with a focus on change-point detection and online learning. First, we introduce an $\ell^2$-based inference approach for multiple change-point detection in high-dimensional time series, which targets dense or spatially clustered signals by a novel Two-Way MOSUM (moving sum) test statistic. We derive the limiting distribution of this $\ell^2$-aggregated statistic by extending the high-dimensional Gaussian approximation to non-stationary spatial-temporal processes. Simulation exhibits promising performance of our test in detecting non-sparse weak signals, and the application to COVID-19 analysis shows the real-world relevance of our method. Next, we …

Study On A Strong Polymer Gel By The Addition Of Micron Graphite Oxide Powder And Its Plugging Of Fracture, Bin Shi, Guangming Zhang, Lei Zhang, Chengjun Wang, Zhonghui Li, Fangping Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

It is difficult to plug the fracture water channeling of a fractured low-permeability reservoir during water flooding by using the conventional acrylamide polymer gel due to its weak mechanical properties. For this problem, micron graphite powder is added to enhance the comprehensive properties of the acrylamide polymer gel, which can improve the plugging effect of fracture water channeling. The chemical principle of this process is that the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the layered micron graphite powder can undergo physicochemical interactions with the amide groups of the polyacrylamide molecule chain. As a rigid structure, the graphite powder can support the …

Geological Structure And Possible Mineralized Zones In Ikungi – Manyoni Area, Tanzania: Delineated From High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data, Raymond K. Pius, Michael M. Msabi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Understanding geological structures is important in mineral exploration. Delineating subsurface geological structures, structural intersections, and complexities of potential geological settings for the formation of hydrothermal mineral deposits, such as gold requires using magnetic data, particularly, high-resolution aeromagnetic data. To define possible targets for mineral exploration, this study used linear detection and the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) techniques on high-resolution aeromagnetic data for structural delineation and interpretation. The study's conclusions indicate that the majority of geological features, such as faults, shears, fault intersections, and fracture systems, trend NE-SW, N-S, and occasionally NW-SE. These structures create potentially large areas that have …

Green And Blue Water Footprints Of Major Crops In The Wami/Ruvu Basin, Tanzania: Implications For Water Scarcity And Sustainability, Benson Hm Lazaro, Martine M. Hagai, Rubhera Ram Mato

Tanzania Journal of Science

Accurate estimation of the blue and green water requirements of the various crops cultivated in a water basin is essential for planning specific plant/crop irrigation schedules. In this study, the crop water requirements of the major crops grown in the Wami/Ruvu basin were determined using the FAO-CROPWAT model based on meteorological parameters: monthly maximum and minimum temperature, wind speed, mean relative humidity, sunshine hours, rainfall data, and effective rainfall for 23 hydro-meteorological stations distributed in the study area. The studied crops are rice, maize, beans, tomatoes, and sugarcane. The crop reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and actual evapotranspiration (ETc) for each crop …

Learning To Teach About Climate Justice And Social Justice In Science Methods, Mindy J. Chappell

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

In November, the Editors of NWJTE sat down for a conversation with Dr. Mindy J. Chappell, a Science Teacher Educator in the College of Education at Portland State University. Dr. Chappell’s passions include developing teachers who are prepared to disrupt normative science ideologies and provide young people with science instruction that encourages and empowers them to be leaders in their communities. She engages in arts-based educational science research through the methodology of Ethnodance (a term she coined). She places young people and their lived experiences at the heart of her work.

Reply To: On The Statistical Foundation Of A Recent Single Molecule Fret Benchmark, Dorothy A. Erie, Lydia Kisley, Dushani Dunukara

Faculty Scholarship

In their ‘Matters Arising’ manuscript, Saurabh et al. discuss two issues related to single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments: the use of the Gaussian noise approximation and spectral crosstalk. Their arguments are based on simulations obtained with parameters that differ significantly from the typical conditions measured experimentally, and, thus, from the regime included in the original study (Götz et al.1). In addition, they make claims about our multi-lab blind study that we would like to rectify. In Table 1, we provide a list of specific statements made by Saurabh et al. with our respective explanations.

Advancing Mobile Sensing In Dynamic Environments, Weichen Wang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

This thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of enhancing mobile sensing capabilities to address various aspects of human behavior, mental health, personality, social functioning and beyond. We redesign the StudentLife app to improve its sensing efficiency and dependability, enabling support for multi-year-long studies. By adopting new app design, this study addresses the technical challenges of continuous sensing and enhances system robustness. The work is organized into several key studies that collectively aim to expand the scope of mobile sensing in diverse and complex environments.

The first study broadens the scope of mobile sensing to assess personality traits, exploring the potential of …

Sol-Gel Synthesis And Microstructure Characterization Of Nio-Tio2 Semiconductor, Godlisten N. Shao

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

NiO-TiO2 is a fascinating p-n semiconducting binary metal oxide with unique electronic and optical properties. The NiO-TiO2 has been synthesized using complicated preparation methods and expensive precursors that hamper their large-scale production. The present study reports the preparation of NiO-TiO2 semiconductor with improved physicochemical properties. NiO-TiO2 samples were prepared through one-pot sol-gel synthesis process followed by sintering of the as-synthesized materials at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C. The role of thermal treatment and NiO content on the microstructures was exquisitely studied. The microstructure of the NiO-TiO2 samples was examined by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, XRF, SEM-EDAX, high resolution TEM, …

General Hydrogeochemical Characterization Of Groundwater In Coastal Aquifers Of Kilwa Kisiwani Oceanic Island, South East Tanzania, Simon R Melchioly

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The main objective of this study was to determine the hydrogeochemical processes controlling the groundwater chemistry on the Island and assess its suitability for human consumption and irrigation. The methodology used in the study include hydrogeological assessment of the study area and laboratory analysis for general physico-chemical parameters of groundwater. Other parameters such as Soluble sodium percentage (SSP) or % Na+, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), Residual sodium carbonate (RSC), hydrochemical facies classification, and Water Quality Index (WQI) were calculated using empirical formulae. The effects of salinization of groundwater were classified using the chloride-Bicarbonate (Cl/HCO3) and the …

Thermogravimetric Analysis And Chemical Kinetics Of Waste Tires, Mahir Mohammed Said

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The focus of this paper is to analyse the pyrolysis reaction of waste tires. The pyrolysis was studied experimentally using thermal and chemical kinetics. The tires were pyrolyzed using thermogravimetry at a temperature range of 200 to 600°C, with heating rates of 10, 20, and 50°C/min. The activating energy was observed to increase with increased temperature. The highest activating energy was 101.02 kJ/mol at a heating rate of 50°C/min.

Design And Optimization Of An Azeotropic Distillation Pilot Plant For The Production Of Pure Ethanol, Samwel V. Manyele

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study aimed to design an azeotropic distillation plant using Aspen Plus® V10 software and determine optimal process conditions for producing pure ethanol greater than 95% from pre-concentrated near-azeotropic ethanol-water solution. The non-random two-liquid Redlich-Kwong thermodynamic model was the base method for property analysis and performance prediction. Modelling and simulation of the converged process were conducted for fixed column variables (R = 5, N = 12 and p = 1 atm). Plant operating parameters were varied in the range of 0 to 1 for the pre-heater vapour fraction, 2 to 10 for the column feed plates (NFP), 2 to 6 …

Assessment Of Risk Factors Related To Body Pain Complaints In Tanzania Construction Industry, Fatma K. Mohamed

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The construction industry is associated with risks that can result in musculoskeletal diseases. Although young male workers who are presumed to be healthy dominate the industry in Tanzania, body pain complaints have been widely reported. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and causes of body pains in workers. A cross-sectional study involving 396 workers was conducted. A chi square test was used for testing association of independent categorical variables and binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors for body pain complaints. The results show that all study participants complained of at least one form …