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Excellence Summit 2024, Office Of Research And Sponsored Projects Operations

Excellence Summit (Research Week) Archived Proceedings

In it's 17th year, the University of the Incarnate Word, welcome all to read and review the proceedings of the annual research week. The 2024 Excellence Summit highlighted academic excellence across all schools featuring topics from nutrition studies to soil amendments, artificial intelligence, medical case studies, and music composition studies. The rich mixture of humanities, health sciences, physical sciences, education, and business can be found in this booklet. We thank all that contributed to these works and hope the community enjoys learning from today's and tomorrow's leaders in research, inquiry, and scholarship.

Research On Theoretical Framework Of Simulative Experiment Evalution For Intelligent Unmanned Swarm Cooperation, Jipeng Wang, Xing Zhang, Hao Wu, Yu Gu, Huijie Yang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: As a typical representative of intelligent equipment, the technology, equipment and combat applications of intelligent unmanned swarm are being promoted globally. However, the research on experimental theory of unmanned swarm lags behind the technology and equipment in general. The emergence of swarm ability and complexity of confrontation of unmanned swarm, the nonrepeatability and non-generalization of swam experiment take great challenge to the basic theory and methods of unmanned swarm. The four experimental models including intelligent technology, intelligent equipment, intelligent swarm, and intelligent sos(system of systems) experiment from the perspective of system engineering and the whole life cycle of equipment …

Research On Dynamic Scene Slam Based On Improved Object Detection, Lanxi Shi, Wenxu Yan, Hongyu Ni, Feng Zhao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the epipolar constraint matching problem of monocular SLAM in dynamic scenes a dynamic feature point selection method based on object detection is proposed, in which the dynamic feature points in the front-end image frame of SLAM system is eliminated during feature extraction to improve the localization accuracy of SLAM. An improved target detection network is proposed to construct a loss function to describe the bounding box by using the overlap area, distance similarity and cosine similarity, which can achieve the accurate localization of target objects and obtain the range of object feature points in the current image …

Asl-Catboost Method For Wind Turbine Fault Detection Integrated With Digital Twin, Hongtao Liang, Lingchao Kong, Guozhu Liu, Wenxuan Dong, Xiangyi Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In view of the low visibility of the current wind farm status monitoring and insufficient realtime operation and maintenance, based on the concept of digital twin five-dimensional model, the framework of wind farm digital twin five-dimensional model is constructed. Aiming at the insufficient fault detection capability of traditional algorithms and unbalanced positive and negative samples in fan fault data set, the improved ASL-CatBoost algorithm is proposed to achieve the accurate detection of fan fault status. Based on the digital twinning platform, combined with MATLAB/Simulink, the simulation mathematical model of doubly-fed wind turbine under the condition of blade mass imbalance …

Time-Scale Of Groundwater Recharge In Coastal Plain Soils, Qing Du

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and modeling the timing and magnitude of groundwater recharge fromrainfall infiltration through vadose zone percolation is important for many reasons but especially because the flux is being acted on by root zone evapotranspiration (ET) and very little of rainfall infiltration ever becomes water table recharge. This study elaborates on the considerable time of the wetting front arrival and ultimate bulk recharge of rainfall infiltration in shallow water table fine-sandy soils typical of coastal plain environments such as Florida. Calibrated Hydrus-1D modeling of Florida (Myakka) soil was evaluated at varying depths of water table and hydraulic conductivities to bracket the …

A New Effective Gravitational Lensing Approach To Constrain Dark Matter, Birendra Dhanasingham

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Galaxy-scale strong gravitational lenses offer a unique window into understanding the nature and distribution of dark matter at sub-galactic scales. Beyond the main-lens subhalos, the inclusion of line-of-sight dark matter halos has become essential in lens studies due to their substantial role in perturbing lensed images, making multi-plane lensing a crucial aspect of any lens study. We highlight that these line-of-sight halos appear extended tangentially along the lensing critical line in the effective convergence maps due to the nonlinear nature of multiplane lensing, resulting in a characteristic anisotropic signature in the deflection field. Leveraging tools from large-scale structure analyses, this …

On Properties Of Pair Operations, Sarah Jane Poiani

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

For any closure operation $\cl$ and interior operation $\ri$ on a class of $R$-modules, we develop the theory of $\cl$-prereductions and $\ri$-postexpansions. A pair operation is a generalization of closure and interior operations. Using Epstein, R.G. and Vassilev's duality \cite{ERGV-nonres}, we show that these notions are in fact dual to each other. We discuss the relationship between the core and hull and prereductions and postexpansions. We further the thematic notion of duality and seek to understand how it arises in the context of properties pair operations can be endowed with and focus on inner product spaces and properties demonstrated by …

Generalized Q-Fock Spaces And Structural Identities, Daniel Alpay, Paula Cerejeiras, Uwe Kaehler, Baruch Schneider

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Using 𝑞-calculus we study a family of reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces which interpolate between the Hardy space and the Fock space. We give characterizations of these spaces in terms of classical operators such as integration and backward-shift operators, and their 𝑞-calculus counterparts. Furthermore, these new spaces allow us to study intertwining operators between classic backward-shift operators and the q-Jackson derivative.

Sdg 3 And Sdg 17: Tidelands Health- Goals Correlation To Recruitment, Savannah Gilmore

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

No abstract provided.

Land Use Planning And The Affordable Housing Crisis, Natalie Hurst

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

No abstract provided.

Ensuring Clean Futures: The Vital Role Of Wastewater Treatment, Nadya Casanova

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

No abstract provided.

Mapping Out The Sky, Erik Johnson

Natural Science Faculty

Astronomers are often asked to help identify UFOs. It's a reasonable request since the term means "unidentified flying object." An untrained observer may not know which celestial objects are visible at night, even in light-polluted skies. They may mistake a plane for a planet, a bright star, or a satellite.

Using Ai Chatbots As Ideation Machines, Brett Hawley, Naomi Hollans

Student Works

The team analyzed 3 popular chatbots and found that none of them could consistently produce idea-centered essay help responses. The team approached them with 3 separate prompts, one from each of three academic subjects. The team analyzed how each chatbot adapted to the addition of personal information from the “student” and to the phrase, “what are some ideas that could help me get started?” The goal with each interaction was to receive a response in which the chatbot did not produce any pre-written content. Overall, the team’s research did not suggest that AI is fully reliable as an ideation tool.

Urinalysis Test Data Analysis And Prediction, Nikhil Mhatre

2024 Datathon Challenges-Archive

OUTLIERS Team submission to the Urinalysis Test Results Timed Challenge

Researched various algorithms like boosting and random forest. We learned a lot about their strength and weaknesses, and used these algorithms accordingly to solve the issues faced in the dataset.

Uni Introduction To High School Openscied Workshop [Flier] April 13, 2024, University Of Northern Iowa Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

The flier for the Introduction to High School OpenSciEd Workshop held on April 13, 2024 at the University of Northern Iowa.

Cpm-8 Europa Unveiled: A Multi-Wavelength Analysis, Trinity A. Ward, Michelle Deady

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This study is an analysis of the compositional structure of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, by utilizing multi-wavelength spectroscopy. The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of Europa’s compositional and potential biological characteristics.

Spectral data was obtained from various space missions and instruments. We are looking at imaging and spectroscopy-focused instruments RALPH, LORRI, LEISA, ALICE, and MVIC which were all part of the New Horizons spacecraft that launched in 2006. The data collected was from the Jupiter fly-by in February-March 2007.

This project sets the tone for the year with the upcoming Europa Clipper mission by NASA, set …

Hgs-3 The Influence Of A Tandem Cycling Program In The Community On Physical And Functional Health, Therapeutic Bonds, And Quality Of Life For Individuals And Care Partners Coping With Parkinson’S Disease, Leila Djerdjour, Jennifer L. Trilk

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Purpose Statement: Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on alleviating symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite this evidence, the potential benefits of exercise for both PD patients and their care partners (PD dyad) remain unexplored. This research project investigates the effectiveness, therapeutic collaborations, and physical outcomes of a virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling program specifically designed for PD dyads.

Methods: Following approval from the Prisma Health Institutional Review Board, individuals with PD were identified and screened by clinical neurologists. The pre-testing measures for PD dyads (N=9) included emotional and cognitive status …

A Biocompatible Hybrid Approach For The Selection Of Gas Drainage Methods In Coal Mines Based On The Best-Worst Method And Analytic Network Process, Amir Jafarpour, Mehdi Najafi, Ali Dabagh

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Methane drainage is one of the main steps in underground coal mining projects. The operation of methane extraction from coal mines/seams is important from the safety, economic, and technical points of view. Selecting the appropriate method for methane drainage is very difficult, and if the method is not chosen correctly, it will lead to environmental problems. The relationship between different influencing factors, parameters, and methods (and how they affect) is significant in choosing the method of gas drainage. In the current study, a hybrid algorithm is presented based on an Analytic Network Process (ANP) and a method based on the …

Comprehensive Question And Answer Generation With Llama 2, Matous Hybl

MS in Computer Science Theses

Since the introduction of transformers, large language models have proven capable in many natural language processing fields. However, existing systems still face challenges in generating high-quality extractive questions. Base models and public chatbots fall short if the question source or quantity are critical. Our contribution is a question and answer generator for generating comprehensive, extractive questions and answers. This approach includes fine-tuning a LLaMA 2 base model for answer extraction (AE) and question generation (QG). We evaluate the resulting system using common automated metrics and a manual evaluation. We find that our system is comparable to the latest research and …

Investigation Of Superconducting Properties In Ybco Using Proton Irradiation, Joseph Fogt, Hope Weeda, Trevor Harrison, Nolan Miles

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

We studied the effect of 600 keV proton irradiation on thin-film Cuprate superconductors. A 500 nm thick YBCO-1237 sample was subjected to a series of proton irradiations using Hope College’s particle accelerator, using a cryocooler to test the resistivity of the sample in between irradiations. We found that the superconducting critical temperature (T_C) drastically decreased from 90 K towards zero Kelvin, and the normal state resistivity increased accordingly. The rate of T_C reduction to resistivity increase will be used to discuss the fundamental property of the superconductor.

Characterization And Testing Of Sipms For A Next-Generation Neutron Detector, Bishop Carl

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

MoNA-LISA is a position-sensitive neutron detector at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) used to probe neutron-unbound states through invariant-mass spectroscopy. Position resolution of the neutron detector is a key factor in invariant mass measurements. A better neutron position would significantly improve the overall reconstructed decay energy resolution and would therefore lead to a better understanding of nuclei near and beyond the dripline. The MoNA collaboration is designing a next-generation neutron detector to improve the current MoNA-LISA resolution (~5cm). The new design will replace the PMTs for SiPM arrays as readout technology. The use of SiPMs (more compact) for …

Towards Erasing The Distinction Between The Computational And Syntactic Accounts Of Scientific Theories, Timothy Luft

Theses

One of the main goals of philosophy of science is to give a proper account of scientific theories and their structure. One way that accounts of the structure of scientific theories can be distinguished is by the mathematical or logical structures that they involve. For instance, syntactic accounts of scientific theories hold that theories are axioms in a logical framework, whereas semantic accounts are more liberal in the range of mathematical and logical structures they take as pertinent to the structure of scientific theories. Paul Thagard (1988) offers a computational account of scientific theories, which holds that theories are complex …

New Vertebrate Microfossils Expand The Diversity Of The Chondrichthyan And Actinopterygian Fauna Of The Maastrichtian–Danian Hornerstown Formation In New Jersey, Zachary Boles, Paul V. Ullmann, Ian Putnam, Mariele Ford, Joseph T. Deckhut

School of Earth & Environment Departmental Research

The abundance of shark and actinopterygian fossils in the Cretaceous and Paleogene strata of the Atlantic Coastal Plain is well documented; but much remains unknown about the survivorship patterns of these major components of shallow marine faunas in the western Atlantic through the K/Pg mass extinction. To shed light on this subject, we describe an assemblage of new actinopterygian, chondrichthyan, and reptilian microfossils recently recovered from the Maastrichtian Navesink and Maastrichtian–Danian Hornerstown formations at the Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University in Mantua Township, New Jersey. The new microfossils clarify extinction patterns across the K/Pg, create temporal …

The Santa Clara, 2024-04-12, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Nanoparticle Chemical Composition On In Situ Hydrogel Friction, Connor Bovia, Griffin Gleeson, Lauren Buckley, Brianna Couturier, Morgan Platz

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

The prevalence of osteoarthritis, alongside the associated pain and limited mobility, has resulted in numerous treatment strategies including the use of nanoparticles as drug-delivery systems in joints. However, the concerted mechanical-chemical effects from joint sliding in the presence of nanoparticle additives are not well understood. This work aims to understand chemically controlled sliding behavior of a soft material like cartilage in the presence of nanoparticles. To mimic cartilage-like features, well-studied polyacrylamide hydrogels were used as a model platform. Focusing on the interactions between nanoparticles that might be used for drug delivery and the hydrogel surfaces, in situ sliding tests were …

The Breaking Of Carbon-Carbon Bonds In Alkyl Ketones, Jenna R. Mustapha, Jordan K. Montgomery, Karen M. Nimtz, Ainsley G. Vandenbrink

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

The breaking of carbon-carbon bonds holds great promise for organic chemistry synthesis. This project specifically looks at using a rhodium catalyst to perform a decarbonylation. The focus is to observe the outcome of a variety of different alkyl groups attached to ketones as they undergo decarbonylation reactions. Depending on the alkyl ketone, the reaction can proceed via direct decarbonylation and/or beta-hydride elimination. The goal of this project includes controlling the selectivity of these reactions for the desired product and expanding the library of successful ketones containing alkyl groups used for the reactions.

Phighting Phosphorus: The Effects Of Sedimentary Phosphorus On The Macatawa Watershed, Elizabeth Kelley, Rachel Fusik, Jake Lyon

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Lake Macatawa experiences severe eutrophication and algal blooms that negatively impact the native species and recreational usage of the lake. There have been several previously completed studies on phosphorus pollution in the water by the Hope College Day1 Watershed Group. However, these measurements do not include lake sediments, which could also be a significant reservoir of phosphorus. Our research group decided to test the sediment at the same three lake locations tested by the Watershed Group, taking two core samples at each location. These samples were dried, combusted in a muffle oven, weighed, digested from solid to liquid, and then …

Material Characterization For Industrial Processes Of Thin Titanium Nanotube Films, Nathaniel Jobson, Jacob Walther, Justin Rink, Wil Pinkerton

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Material characterization is an important step in the experimental processes. This step ensures that the samples' processing yields the intended results. This work outlines the process taken to analyze and characterize a set of industrial thin films. Our characterization starts with an elemental baseline from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition is verified by SimNRA (Simulation Nuclear Reaction Analysis) calculations fitting Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) data collected from a silicon surface barrier (particle) detector.

Role Of Intermolecular Interactions Between Nanoparticle Capping Ligands And Hydrogel Surfaces During Sliding, Lauren Buckley, Connor Bovia, Griffin Gleeson

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Modern treatments for osteoarthritis increasingly involve the use of nanoparticles as drugdelivery systems, but there is little known about the influence of nanoparticle chemical composition and surface chemistry between nanoparticles and soft materials in sliding contact. This work implements cartilage-mimicking polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels as a well-studied, fundamental platform. In situ (in a fluid environment) macroscale friction tests as a function of shear rate were conducted with a rheometer with a tribology adapter, controlling for contact pressure. Comparing different nanoparticle compositions, citrate capped metal (gold) nanoparticles exhibited a 50% increase in friction relative to water. With no difference in solution viscosity, …

What Students Have To Say On Data Privacy For Educational Technology, Stephanie Choi

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The literature on data privacy in terms of educational technology is a growing area of study. The perspective of educators has been captured extensively. However, the literature on students’ perspectives is missing, which is what we explore in this paper. We use a pragmatic qualitative approach with an experiential lens to capture students’ attitudes towards data privacy in terms of educational technology. We identified preliminary, common themes that appeared in the survey responses. The paper concludes by calling for more research on how students perceive data privacy in terms of educational technology.