Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Development Of Colpitts Self Oscillator, Jasmin Billingsley

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Topological materials can serve as promising platforms for next-generation technology. Magnetism in such systems is often a consequence of emergent quantum phenomena, and the traditional framework is insufficient to fully describe their magnetic properties. In this project, we will perform precision magnetic measurements utilizing the Colpitts self-oscillator to determine the temperature- and field-dependent AC magnetic susceptibility in the topological magnetic materials. The collective knowledge learned from this proposed research would shed light on the understanding of exotic magnetism in topological materials, potentially leading to new physics of magnetism.

Iron Doped Zeolitic Materials For Propane Dehydrogenation Catalyst, Emily Cahill, Amitava Choudhury

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This research describes the synthesis of iron-doped zeolitic catalysts for the transformation of propane to propylene. The goal of this research is to develop a dehydrogenation catalyst to convert shale-gas derived cheap propane feedstock to economically valuable propylene, while at the same time making this catalyst sustainable and non-toxic to the environment. Fedoped zeolitic frameworks have shown promising activity in percentage of conversion and in selectivity. In our study we analyzed zeolites ZSM-5 and AIP0-5. These were chosen because they have differences in pore structure , channel sizes, and connectivity between channels. Most importantly the differences in the chemistry as …

Cytokinesis And Dbf2, Katharine Gray, Katie Shannon

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

During cell division, the cytoplasm must be divided between the parent and daughter cell. The Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) is a signaling pathway that allows a dividing cell to exit mitosis and complete cytokinesis. Obf2 is a MEN protein kinase in yeast, which provides a simplified model for studying this conserved pathway. By regulating Dbf2s' activity through phosphorylation mutants, its effect on cytokinesis can be studied. Cells were viewed under a microscope, to visualize division errors. Yeast cells that fail to complete cytokinesis will form chains, as the budding daughter cells fail to separate from their parents. Chains of 3 …

Laser Ablation Pulsing On A Cp-Ftmw, Harrison Hawxby

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

The goal of this research is to study metal containing molecules in the gas phase for structural determination. In order to do this, a metal rod that is turning on a 12V motor is struck by a Nd:YAG laser. Rotational spectra were recorded on a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer (CP-FTMW) with laser ablation sourcing. Along the way, maintenance on the setup was required, new code was written to accommodate for new problems, as well as production and parametrization of the gas to optimize signal.

Development Of Colpitts Self Oscillator For Measurement Of Magnetic And Superconducting Properties, Jasmine Billingsley

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Topological materials can serve as promising platforms for next-generation technology. Magnetism in such systems is often a consequence of emergent quantum phenomena, and the traditional framework is insufficient to fully describe their magnetic properties. In this project, we will perform precision magnetic measurements utilizing the Colpitts self-oscillator to determine the temperature- and field-dependent AC magnetic susceptibility in the topological magnetic materials. The collective knowledge learned from this proposed research would shed light on the understanding of exotic magnetism in topological materials, potentially leading to new physics of magnetism.

Effect Of Morphology As A Function Of The K-Index On The Drug Loading And Release Profiles In Polyurea And Poly(Isocyanurate-Urethane) Aerogels, Kamden J. George, Stephen Y. Owusu, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This study explores the potential to predict the drug loading and release profiles of aerogels based on their morphologies: a milestone in drug delivery research which can help save time and cost invested in formulating new aerogel drug carriers and cut-down evaluation of the drug delivery capabilities of aerogels to a few experimental runs. Polyurea (PUA) and poly (isocyanurate-urethane) (PIR-PUR) aerogels were used as model systems while 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paracetamol (PM) were used as model drugs. These model systems were chosen because they can be synthesized into different morphologies identified by the so-called K-index (contact angle:porosity). The model drugs …

Glacial Resource Analysis – Castner Glacier, Alaska, Logan Erichsen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Glaciers cover much of the 49th U.S. state of Alaska. While many of these are deep blues, just as many are “rock” glaciers which means the glacier is covered in sediment. This sediment can be transported many miles through the mountain ranges. With the current climate melting these glaciers they are receding. Sediment and rock samples can now be safely collected from different locations where glaciers have released sediment that was locked in the ice for an untold number of years. Much of the USGS data comes from the 1940’s through 1960’s due to the size and remoteness of Alaska. …

Volcanic Ash In Lincoln County, Kansas, Logan Erichsen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This report outlines the analysis of Pearlette volcanic ash in Lincoln County Kansas. Both field and lab methods were used to compile this report. Fort Hays State University alumni Dr. Ron Whitmer allowed use of his property on which the ash is found. Auguring was utilized as the main form of field work which allowed mapping of the subsurface ash layer. The ash was analyzed by UMKC using their scanning electron microscope (SEM). At Fort Hays, the SEM reports were compared to thin sections of the ash using plane and cross polarized light in petrographic microscopes. The ash is comprised …

Structure Of A Class Of Ordinary Differential Equations, Letao Chang

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In the realm of mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) denotes a particular type of differential equation contingent solely upon a single independent variable. Similar to other differential equations, an ODE involves one or more functions as its unknowns and encompasses derivatives of these functions. The designation "ordinary" serves to distinguish these equations from partial differential equations, which may pertain to multiple independent variables.

High Powered Rocket Modification, Joshua Gage

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Rocketry has always been a fun challenge for me. Since not only was I able to learn something new every time I did it, but I was able to do something with my hands as well. One area that has been very challenging for me is how to put a tracker onto a rocket that has no electronics bay. And studying for the L2 Certification tests. And this poster shows my thoughts and process I did to pass my L2 Certification Flight.

Climatology Of Tornadoes In Kansas, John P. Wasinger, Todd Moore

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Recent studies report changes to the climatology of tornadoes in the United States (US). Changes with the most supporting evidence include an increase in the intra- and inter-annual variability, increased concentration of tornadoes in bigger outbreaks, and a geographic shift of the densest tornado activity away from Tornado Alley in the Great Plains and toward the Great Lakes and Southeast regions of the US. Broad, national-level changes are valuable, but they can mask changes occurring at the state and sub-state levels where mitigation efforts are most effective. Kansas is of interest due to its reputation as a hotbed of tornado …

Computational Modeling Of Retinal Damage Thresholds, Payton Hoffman, Eos Shapland, Alan Enriquez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Scalable Effects Simulation Environment(SESE), is the computational Biophysics software contracted by Nanohmics we used for our research. The goal was to find the minimum energy necessary to damage the retina from 2 laser sources, a 532 nm He-Ne source, and Supercontinuum Laser(SCL) source at 400-1400nm. We needed a 10 times damage ratio for significance. Our data did not show this trend.

Revolutionizing Ecosystems: Innovative Planting Machines Combating Desertification, Sunghun Park, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

An important environmental issue that has a profound effect on human welfare, socioeconomic stability, and global ecosystems is desertification. A little over 12 million hectares of land perish year due to the damaging impacts of desertification, which is made worse by overgrazing, deforestation, and inadequate water management. This not only results in a significant loss of arable land, capable of producing 20 million tons of grain, but also in substantial economic repercussions, with estimated annual losses reaching USD 42 billion (UNCCD, 2020). The enormity of the problem emphasizes how urgently we need practical, long-term solutions to stop and reverse the …

Assessing Unstable Fossils For Long-Term Storage, Carson Cope, Alex Landwehr, Kale Link, Israel Rivera-Molina, Laura E. Wilson

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In 2022, Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History (FHSM) began a project to address the long-term preservation of a Late Miocene mammal collection. Many of the fossils from the collection were poorly consolidated, uncurated, and improperly stored, leaving them unstable and prone to significant degradation. To organize our stabilization efforts, we developed a new assessment workflow consisting of two evaluation tools. These tools have helped us categorize the risk factors for specimens, the priority in which they should be addressed, and how to store the fossils long-term. With these newly developed workflows, we are in a better …

A Smart Resume Builder Tool Using Generative Ai, Ivan A. Velo Castaneda, Anas Hourani, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Crafting a standout resume is crucial in today’s competitive job market. Not only does it create a strong first impression on employers but it also it opens the doors for endless job opportunities. Despite existing resume assistance for FHSU students on the Career Services page, there's a lack of tools for generating or streamlining the resume writing process. To address this issue, an efficient resume builder utilizing OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 model was developed specifically for FHSU students. Its key features include intuitive template selection, dynamic AI-generated content for tailored resumes, multi-format output supporting PDF and Word formats, and a user-friendly experience …

Killing Cancer: Manipulating Hydrophobic Vanadium Complexes To Improve Anti-Cancer Activity, Levi Ausherman, Debbie C. Crans, Peter A. Lay, Maggi Braasch-Turi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Hydrophobic vanadium complexes have recently shown improved anti-cancer activities compared to cisplatin. The hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activity of [VO(Hshed)(dtb)] ([Hshed= N-(salicylideneaminato)-N’-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and dtb= 3,5-di(tert-butyl)catechol)]) have inspired the development of a library of hydrophobic vanadium complexes. Increasing the steric bulk of the catechol ligand has been shown to have a direct impact on hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activities. Currently at Fort Hays State University, the Braasch-Turi group is synthesizing VO(HSHED)(dtb) to build up material to support the chemical analysis and biological assay performed by our collaborators at Colorado State University and the University of Sydney, Australia, respectively. In the future, we plan …

Kinetic Controlled-Growth Synthesis Of Cadmium Selenide Nanocrystal Quantum Dots, Aiden Gideon, Maverick Flax

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A kinetic controlled growth method has been used to synthesize cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanocrystals. Nanocrystal structures are consistent with that of a quantum dot. Ligand passivation on the surface of the micelle is best carried out using trioctylphosphine (TOP). This allows one to tune the particle surface chemistry. Quantum dots intersperse as colloids within the 1-octadecene solvent matrix. The color gradient observed among the samples is indicative of its dependence on particle size which is consistent with the “particle-in-a-box” model theory. Results also indicate that the particle size of these nanocrystals is dependent on reaction time and maybe dependent on …

A Precise Measurement Of The Lifetime Of B-Mesons, Measurement Of Cp-Violation Parameters Of Bs-Mesons, The Atlas Experiment At The Lhc, And Development Of Silicon Detectors For Future Particle Physics Experiments, Easwar Anand Narayanan

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

A series of connected research projects has been carried out for the purpose of seeking physics phenomena beyond the Standard Model. These consist of a precise measurement of the lifetime of a short-lived b-hadron, the B_d-meson; preparations for measurements of CP-violating parameters in B_s decays; development of triggers that select b-hadron events; development of new instruments for improved precision in detecting fundamental particles; and monitoring and mitigating the effect of radiation on the detectors, which is inescapable in their operating environment. Datasets collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are used for …

Investigation Of Temporal Variation In Sediment Deposition Within The Tropical Wouri Estuary Cameroon Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Olumide Ajulo, Dr. Henry Agbogun, Dr. Hendratta Ali

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to qualitatively analyze organic and mineral components of the sediment core collected from the Wouri Estuary. The FTIR spectra revealed distinct transmittance corresponding to different organic and mineral phases, allowing for the characterization of sediment composition. The FTIR spectra showed changes and variation progressively from the bottom to the top. These sediments are proxies for time this can be inferred to say deposition in the Wouri Estuary has always changed.

A Campus Beyond Plastic: Post-Landfill Action Network (Plan), Savannah Robledo, Ramiro Murguia

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Savannah Robledo and Ramiro Murguia of the Post-Landfill Action Network present "A Campus Beyond Plastic" at the 2024 Zero Waste Summit.

Image De‑Photobombing Benchmark, Vatsa S. Patel, Kunal Agrawal, Samah Baraheem, Amira Yousif, Tam Nguyen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Removing photobombing elements from images is a challenging task that requires sophisticated image inpainting techniques. Despite the availability of various methods, their effectiveness depends on the complexity of the image and the nature of the distracting element. To address this issue, we conducted a benchmark study to evaluate 10 state-of-the-art photobombing removal methods on a dataset of over 300 images. Our study focused on identifying the most effective image inpainting techniques for removing unwanted regions from images. We annotated the photobombed regions that require removal and evaluated the performance of each method using peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index …

Qualitative Analysis Of Selected Hydrocarbon Produced In Kansas Using Ftir: An Oil-Oil Correlation Study, Oluwaseun Omoyemi, Henry Agbogun, James Titah

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Hydrocarbons have been produced in Kansas since the 1860s, however, the properties and characteristics of the produced oil are still poorly understood.

An oil-oil correlation analysis has been conducted on twelve hydrocarbon samples from three subbasins and from five producing intervals within the State of Kansas. Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) was used to characterize the organic functional groups present within the samples and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was used to assess the hydrocarbon fractions in the samples. The FTIR spectrum of all the samples exhibit similar peaks implying similar functionally groups were present in all the samples. The TLC …

Social And Leisure Participation By People With Dementia: A Caregiver Resource Guide, Rebecca Mcmillian, Beth Lambert, Mary Smith, Katherine Christie

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this caregiver education intervention is to increase caregiver self-efficacy and effectiveness in increasing social participation and quality of life for those they are caring for as well as decreasing caregiver stress and burnout associated with providing care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The guide will include education and resources for these caregivers detailing safety precautions, strategies to reduce difficult behaviors impacting social and leisure engagement, and resources to decrease caregiver burden.

Improving Participation In Physical Education For Children With Disabilities, Randi Major, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Participating in adaptive sports has many benefits for children with disabilities (CWD), however literature demonstrates that many barriers exist within community-setting adaptive sports which impact participation for CWD. There is currently a lack of understanding of the needs of CWD and the barriers that exist within schools that impact their participation in physical activities and sports. In addition, the literature demonstrates that many individuals with disabilities are not meeting the recommended minutes for daily physical activity which can impact the health and well-being of CWD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022).

The purpose of this capstone project was …

Genomic Population Structure Of Great Hammerhead Sharks (Sphyrna Mokarran) Across The Indo-Pacific, Naomi L. Brunjes, Samuel M. Williams, Alexis L. Levengood, Matt K. Broadhurst, Vincent Raoult, Alastair V. Harry, Matias Braccini, Madeline E. Green, Julia L. Y. Spaet, Michael J. Travers, Bonnie J. Holmes

Fisheries Research Articles

Context

Currently, little information exists describing the population structure of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) in Australian waters. Aims

This study used single nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate fine-scale population structure in S. mokarran across the Indo-Pacific. Methods

DNA was extracted from 235 individuals across six Australian locations and a Red Sea outgroup. Population parameters were calculated and visualised to test structuring across locations. Key results

No fine-scale population structuring was observed for S. mokarran across the Indo-Pacific. However, population structuring occurred for all Australian locations when compared to the Red Sea outgroup. Conclusions

Findings suggest a single stock …

Feed More, Waste Less, Kaitlyn Dietz

Honors Projects

With college prices and the cost of food increasing, so has the rate of food insecurity among college students. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of availability or access to food to meet someone’s basic and necessary needs. Food insecurity is associated with lower grades, depression, higher perceived stress, and lower graduation rates. Campuses across the country are responding to the problem in a variety of ways, including distribution of food directly to students through food pantries. Meal plans are expensive in the addition to college tuition and housing. The lowest cost for a meal plan at Bowling Green …

Ultrasoft Platelet-Like Particles Stop Bleeding In Rodent And Porcine Models Of Trauma, Kimberly Nellenbach, Emily Mihalko, Seema Nandi, Drew W. Koch, Jagathpala Shetty, Leandra Moretti, Jennifer Sollinger, Nina Moiseiwitsch, Ana Sheridan, Sanika Pandit, Maureane Hoffman, Lauren V. Schnabel, L. Andrew Lyon, Thomas H. Barker, Ashley C. Brown

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Uncontrolled bleeding after trauma represents a substantial clinical problem. The current standard of care to treat bleeding after trauma is transfusion of blood products including platelets; however, donated platelets have a short shelf life, are in limited supply, and carry immunogenicity and contamination risks. Consequently, there is a critical need to develop hemostatic platelet alternatives. To this end, we developed synthetic platelet-like particles (PLPs), formulated by functionalizing highly deformable microgel particles composed of ultralow cross-linked poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) with fibrin-binding ligands. The fibrin-binding ligand was designed to target to wound sites, and the cross-linking of fibrin polymers was designed …

Quantum Computation Using Large Spin Qudits, Sivaprasad Thattupurackal Omanakuttan

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This dissertation explores quantum computation using qudits encoded into large spins, emphasizing the concept of quantum co-design to harness the unique capabilities of physical platforms for enhanced quantum information processing. First, we delve into the generation of high-fidelity universal gate sets for quantum computation with qudits. Leveraging principles from quantum optimal control, Rydberg physics, and the atomic structure of alkaline-earth atoms, we propose protocols for high-fidelity universal gate sets in the ground state of ⁸⁷Sr with reasonable experimental parameters. Next, we analyze schemes to encode a qubit in the large spin qudits for fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC). By comprehending …

Megordle: A Wdolre Usclnbaermr, Meg Arney

Undergraduate Research Conference

Our goal was to make a dynamic word unscrambler app based on the random generation of words from a database. The original database contains 4,320 of the most common words in the English language. This project was originally designed in Visual Studio Code in java and takes input from the terminal. The project was later translated into C# and transferred into Unity to provide a visual and dynamic interface for users.

Unlocking Nature’S Code: Design Principles For Cooperativity In Multi-Electron Redox Processes, Mariona Garcia Dalmases, Alexis Telford, Courtney Young

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.