Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Comparative Plague Study Of Cacao Fungal Disease In Cacao Pods Within Monocultures And Indigenous Agroforests In Ecuador’S Napo Province, Seamus Mccarthy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study analyzes the composition of three major fungal diseases in Theobroma cacao fruits compared between monocultures and chakra agroforests in the Napo province of Ecuador with the goal of noting similarities and differences in the disease composition between the two systems, as well as investigate possible variation within this poorly understood category of agroforest to better structure future studies. Cacao pods on sampled trees were counted and fungal infections identified visually and by touch. Chakra systems were selected in the communities of Cinco de Enero and Seis de Marzo to the Southwest of Tena, Ecuador. Monoculture data was collected …

The Australian News Media And Climate Change: How Frames Impact The Response Of Individuals In An Anthropocentric Society, Laura Joelsson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

News media plays an instrumental role in shaping opinions and perceptions on climate change due to it being such a wide-reaching institution. The discourses of news media are able to use frames to determine the discursive context in which a concept or issue is discussed by promoting a central theme or message. This study aims to use critical discourse analysis to determine how climate change is framed in news media, and how these frames depict the forms and scope of possible climate action. The study also analyzes if these forms of action are predominantly anthropocentric in nature. Critical discourse analysis …

Spatial Ecology And Habitat Preference Of Yellow-Spotted Monitors (Varanus Panoptes) At Lizard Island National Park, Qld, Australia, Ryan Snyder

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Lizard Island National Park is an area of strong habitat diversity, especially given its small size. There are several distinct habitats represented, including open sclerophyll woodlands, mangrove swamps, dune grasslands, foothills elevations, and of course anthropogenically modified human habitats. The object of this study was to observe the abundances and behaviors of the yellow-spotted monitor lizard (V. panoptes) in each of these habitat settings to answer the question of which habitat type is preferred amongst V. panoptes in the landscape context of Lizard Island National Park.

Study transects were conducted over the course of one month measuring abundance of V. …

Dairy & Development: An Investigation Into The Economic And Sociopolitical Dynamics Of Yak Cheesemaking In Nepal, Audrey Peiker

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Cheesemaking in Nepal is full of love, passion, and creativity. What began as a Swiss development project in the 1950s has now grown into a full-fledged industry, providing jobs, creative outlets, and cultural expression for many. Nepal’s Dairy Development Corporation owns several factories throughout the country, setting the tone for the industry by establishing the standard price for milk and process for cheesemaking. From there, privately held factories innovate and compete, bringing new products to the market and increasing wages, but also struggle with consistency and reliability. Now, Nepal’s cheesemaking market is at a turning point—much of the herding population …

Talking To The Earth: A Digital Documentation Of Biodiversity In The Sherpa Language, Dvij Sharma

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Identified as a pressing matter by organizations as prominent as the UN, the conservation of minority and indigenous languages “is essential for ensuring the continuation and transmission of culture, customs, and history, but it is also important to address biodiversity loss and climate change.” This project focuses on one of the latter issues, biodiversity loss, as it relates to Sherpa, a minority language spoken primarily in Eastern Nepal. In an effort to help preserve the native vocabulary and descriptions of basic plants and animals found in Sherpa-speaking regions, primarily interview-based fieldwork was conducted in the lower Solu regions of Lumsa, …

Ecological Living In Nepali Food Systems: A Synthesis Of Circular Nutrient And Knowledge Flows In The Kathmandu Valley, Kaitlyn Feely

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Researching food-systems in Nepal can feel like drinking from a fire hydrant. Sixty-six percent of the population is directly involved in agriculture and a diverse set of ecocultural understandings influence the practice across the country’s landscapes, ranging from the Himalayas to urban centers to southern plains. In the Kathmandu Valley and peripheral hills where I conducted my research, seemingly any spare land was under cultivation, enabled by fertile ground, optimal climate, and market potential. But despite the prevalence of farming in daily life throughout the country, Nepal’s food system is not domestically self-sufficient. A complex web of imports and exports …

Status Of Pangolins: A Case Study On "The Most Trafficked Mammal In The World" In Central-South Of Nepal, Tsogyal Wangmo Lama

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Pangolins are subject to constant trafficking in Asia and increasingly in Africa for their meat and scales. Very little research is done on this species due to its nocturnal, burrowing, and elusive nature. The larger the size of an animal is, the better it is known to the people and vice versa. Hence all these eight species of pangolins despite being under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list with the four Asian species declared endangered or critically endangered, are still illegally abused and used for ulterior motives due to a lack of awareness among the general …

Biodiversidad De Plantas En La Reserva Natural Urbana Punta Popper En Río Grande: Una Propuesta Para Senderos Para La Gestión De La Conservación Y Métodos De Campo Replicables En Un Etorno Educativo, Lili Weir

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Patagonian Steppe is an ecoregion that is rich in plant biodiversity (both native and introduced), and the Urban Nature Reserves like Punta Popper in Río Grande provide an opportunity to preserve these sensitive species and educate the public, especially students, about the value of this trophic level. However, many beautiful species are being affected by human activities in the Reserve: such as the mismanagement of the trail systems which has led to erosion of the sand dunes, and the pressures of rapid urban expansion contributing to trash pollution. It is essential that stakeholder communities have access to information and …

A Multi-Factorial Analysis Of The Sustainability Of Non-Governmental Organizations’ Psychosocial Support Programs In Jordan, Dina Abdalla

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research paper aims to explore the factors that affect the sustainability of psychosocial support (PSS) programs provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Jordan. NGOs in Jordan are facing a significant issue when it comes to the sustainability of their programs, and they provide crucial programs for refugees and underserviced populations. So, it is crucial to investigate the factors affecting and solutions to sustainability. It is hypothesized that sustainability is a multi- factorial concept, affected by financial, organizational, and environmental factors. It is predicted that NGO characteristics, program effectiveness, and program type can affect sustainability. To combat sustainability issues, it …

Bayesian Dependence Structure Analysis For Ordinal Data, Yang He

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores different methods to study the dependence structure among many ordinal variables under the Bayesian framework.

Chapter 1 introduces ordinal data analysis methods, and the related literature works are briefly reviewed. An outline of the dissertation is put forward.

In Chapter 2, Gaussian copula graphical models with different priors of graphical Lasso, adaptive graphical Lasso, and spike-and-slab Lasso on the precision matrix are assessed and compared. The proposed models are well illustrated via simulations and a real ordinal survey data analysis.

In Chapter 3, adaptive spike-and-slab Lasso prior is proposed as an extension of Chapter 2. The developed …

2023 April - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

No abstract provided.

A Short Solution Of The Kissing Number Problem In Dimension Three, Alexey Glazyrin

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We give a short solution of the kissing number problem in dimension three.

Surface And Alloy Engineering Of Halide Perovskite (Cspbx3) Nanocrystals For Efficient And Stable Optoelectronics, Sakiru L. Abiodun

Theses and Dissertations

Organic and inorganic halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) (in form of ABX₃, where A is organic cation e.g CH₃NH₃⁺ or inorganic cation e.g Cs⁺) have emerged as an intriguing alternative to the widely studied chalcogenide and pnictide QDs. Their excellent optoelectronic properties such as large absorption coefficient, high carrier mobility, wide color gamut, long electron-hole diffusion lengths, and tunable bandgap energy are largely responsible for their wide acceptability in various electronic devices. However, despite this enthusiasm, the problem of purification, long-term stability, lead toxicity and inadequate knowledge of their surface chemistry still …

Detecting Spatially Varying Coefficient Effects With Conditional Autoregressive Models: A Simulation Study Using Social Determinants Of Health Screening Data, Reid J. Demass

Theses and Dissertations

Generalized linear models which include spatially varying coefficient terms allow researchers to determine if the association between predictor and outcome variables vary across geographic space. Such models are particularly applicable to research with public health data where interventions and limited health care resources must be allocated carefully. The integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) methodology available in the R INLA package is a popular tool to estimate spatially varying coefficients. To assess the performance of the estimation procedure, patient emergency department (ED) visits were simulated from data sourced from a pilot study at Prisma Health. The INLA technique was used to …

On The Algebraic And Geometric Multiplicity Of Zero As A Hypergraph Eigenvalue, Grant Ian Fickes

Theses and Dissertations

We consider the algebraic and geometric multiplicity of hypergraph eigenvalues, paying particular attention to nullities of hypertrees. Conjecture surrounds the relationship between these two multiplicites, but little work appears in the literature on this topic. Predominantly, we are interested in identifying the geometric structure of the nullvariety of certain hypergraph classes by listing the irreducible components and their accompanying dimensions. When applicable, we use this description to verify a conjecture relating the algebraic and geometric nullity. Furthermore, we refine these geometric structure tools to graph theoretic trees, defining a matroid on trees and relating skew zero forcing to the existence …

Engineering Of Bio-Based And Synthetic Polymers: Synthesis And Application In Superabsorbent Materials And Antibacterial Agents, Jihyeon Hwang

Theses and Dissertations

A polymer consists of a large number of monomer units, which can be obtained naturally or via a chemical process called polymerization. Polymers are important materials that are used in our daily life. Life would not be possible without these polymers, either from plant biomass or petroleum-derived synthetic polymers. The substitution of petroleum-derived to biomass-based polymers has been highlighted to mitigate adverse environmental impact. However, the use of bio-based polymers is still a significant challenge for more demanding applications. In this dissertation work, the engineering of both bio-based and synthetic polymers and their properties are investigated.

In Chapter 1, the …

Coordination Environment And Thermodynamics Of Colloidal Quantum Dots In Polar Solvents, Nuwanthaka Prasad Jayaweera Millaniyage

Theses and Dissertations

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been extensively investigated due to their attractive properties such as size-tunable absorption and emission spectra, large molar extinction coefficients, and significant photostability. These properties make them promising candidates for optoelectronic, photocatalytic, and biomedical applications. Common synthetic procedures of QDs produce nanocrystals capped with long-chain fatty acid derivatives which are stabilized in high boiling point solvents. Especially for bioimaging applications, the exchange of these native hydrophobic ligands with hydrophilic ligands should be performed, while preserving the smaller hydrodynamic radius. The coordination environment and thermodynamic parameters of the ligand exchanges should be carefully investigated to engineer …

Biochemical, Structural, And Immunological Characterization Of Selected Panallergens, Andrea Leigh O'Malley

Theses and Dissertations

Allergies throughout the world are increasing in prevalence and severity. Although the direct causes of the development of allergies are not confirmed, study of proteins that cause reactions will lead to a deeper understanding of allergy. This work focuses on three panallergen families, profilins, parvalbumins, and arginine kinases, to further elucidate the background of allergy from the point of view of the allergens themselves. In Chapter 1, we evaluate pollen, fruit, and mite profilins in the context of allergy, showing the relevance of conserved cysteine residues in stability and oligomerization as well as the first data on cross-reactivity between plant …

Muon Intensity Measurement With The Majorana Demonstrator, Franklin Michael Adams Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The Majorana Demonstrator (MJD) is a shielded radiation detection system located a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. The system aims to detect the theorized, rare process of neutrinoless double-beta decay. The Demonstrator utilizes an array of scintillating acrylic detectors to veto any signals induced by earth-penetrating cosmogenic muons and reach background levels necessary for the detection of neutrinoless double-beta decay. Utilizing the data collected by the muon veto system, an analysis has been done to determine the differential muon intensity. The complex geometry of the interlacing detector panels requires the use of Monte …

A Study Of Single Molecule Detection With Graphene Hall Bars, Kenneth Stephen Stephenson

Theses and Dissertations

In 2007, detection of individual molecules with a solid-state gas sensor was reported for first time by Schedin et al. where they used micromechanically-cleaved graphene for their sensing material, which exhibits isotropic and homogeneous conduction [1]. However, despite the novelty and popularity of their work, it has never been repeated. Further, we found their associated calculations to be self-inconsistent by a factor of 103 . So, hoping to account for and resolve this discrepancy, we outline the plan we had to reproduce their experiment. We also justify any substantial modifications, particularly our choice to use epitaxial graphene instead. Then, we …

Expanding Tailorable Nanomaterial Synthesis With Persistent Micelle Templates, Eric R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The control of block polymer micelle dimensions while in solution is critical for a range of emerging applications in diverse fields from drug delivery and nanoreactors to use as sacrificial templates for porous nanomaterials. When under kinetic control, micelles will maintain a constant average size and thus aggregation number (N_agg) through the suppression of chain exchange mechanisms. Such kinetic control effectively enables the decoupling of micelle dimensions from solution conditions. In other words, kinetically trapped micelles can resist reorganizations brough about by e.g., the addition of metal nanoparticles. However, such micelles are traditionally governed by a fickle �� …

Learning Analytics Through Machine Learning And Natural Language Processing, Bokai Yang

Theses and Dissertations

The increase of computing power and the ability to log students’ data with the help of the computer-assisted learning systems has led to an increased interest in developing and applying computer science techniques for analyzing learning data. To understand and investigate how learning-generated data can be used to improve student success, data mining techniques have been applied to several educational tasks. This dissertation investigates three important tasks in various domains of educational data mining: learners’ behavior analysis, essay structure analysis and feedback providing, and learners’ dropout prediction. The first project applied latent semantic analysis and machine learning approaches to investigate …

Dust Production And Transport In A Long-Lived Fluvial-Eolian System In The Pampas Of South America, Blake Marcus Stubbins

Theses and Dissertations

Wind-blown dust from southern South America links the terrestrial, marine, atmospheric, and biologic components of Earth’s climate system. The Pampas of central Argentina (~33-40° S) contain an extensive upper Miocene to Holocene eolian record that spans the relatively warm conditions of the Late Miocene to cooler climates of the Plio-Pleistocene and Holocene. We collected 13 loess, paleosol, and fluvial samples from the upper Miocene Cerro Azul and Rio Negro Formations which resulted in n = 5129 new detrital zircon U-Pb ages. Late Miocene rivers conveyed sediment from northern Patagonia, the Andes adjacent to the Pampas, and the Sierras Pampeanas to …

Exploring The Current Training Of Undergraduate Geology Students And Teaching Spatial Skills To Improve Student Outcomes, Ann Marie Klyce

Theses and Dissertations

Spatial skills, which represent the ability to mentally manipulate objects (Schneider & McGrew, 2012; Atit et al., 2020) have been shown to be correlated with entrance, persistence and success in STEM (Shea et al., 2001; Wai et al., 2009). Specifically, these skills have been shown to be necessary to geologists and geoscientists (Hegarty, 2014; Gagnier et al., 2016). While we recognize the importance of these skills, explicit training in them is rarely offered (NRC 2006). Consequently, cognitive scientists and discipline based education researchers have begun concerted efforts to offer training in spatial skills to improve student outcomes (e.g. Uttal et …

Sparse Partitioned Empirical Bayes Ecm Algorithms For High-Dimensional Linear Mixed Effects And Heteroscedastic Regression, Anja Zgodic

Theses and Dissertations

Variable selection methods in both the frequentist and Bayesian frameworks are powerful techniques that provide prediction and inference in high-dimensional linear regression models. These methods often assume independence between observations and normally distributed errors with the same variance. In practice, these two assumptions are often violated. To mitigate this, we develop efficient and powerful Bayesian approaches for linear mixed modeling and heteroscedastic linear regression. These method offers increased flexibility through the development of empirical Bayes estimators for hyperparameters, with computationally efficient estimation through the Expectation Conditional-Minimization (ECM) algorithm. The novelty of these approaches lies in the partitioning and parameter expansion, …

Gamma Calibration Of Scintillators For The Muon Scattering Experiment, Anne Gloria Flannery

Theses and Dissertations

The MUon Scattering Experiment (MUSE) at the Paul Scherrer Institute seeks to measure the muon-proton and electron-proton elastic cross-sections in the same experiment by measuring the scattering angle of particles from a 115-160 MeV beam onto a liquid hydrogen target. The timing detectors, as well as several of other detectors in the experiment, are plastic scintillators. This document discusses a method for the energy calibration, using ²⁰⁸Tl, ²²Na, and 88Y sources, signal attenuation, and hit-position reconstructions of various timing detectors, as well as their function in the experiment as a whole. This method involves first attaining the pulse-height …

Structure Property Investigation And Applications Of Self-Assembled Triphenylamine Bis Urea Macrocycles, Md Faizul Islam

Theses and Dissertations

Porous organic crystals can be advantageous as nanoreactors and in sensing, separations, and storage. The Shimizu group utilizes bifurcated urea hydrogen bonding to direct the assembly small building block into pillars and columns affording functional porous crystals. Recently, our group has examined the incorporation of triphenylamines within the framework of bis-urea macrocycles. These macrocycles assemble into columns that contain the solvent of crystallization bound within the channels. Heating the crystals leads to removal of the solvent and activates the host for guest exchange by single-crystal-to-single[1]crystal transformations. Different electron accepting molecules can be encapsulated inside the pore of the host …

Molecular Devices For Measuring Weak Solvophobic Interactions And The Development Of Pedagogical Tools For Organic Chemistry Students, Alexander N. Manzewitsch

Theses and Dissertations

The main topics of this dissertation are: 1) the development and discussion of a new molecular balance for measuring alkyl-alkyl interactions in a wide array of organic solvents, 2) the development of linear solvation energy relationships between solvent interaction parameters and solvent accessible surface area (SASA) in CH-arene interactions, and 3) the development of online resources for helping undergraduate students perform organic chemistry mechanisms problems well.

The solvophobic effect, that is the forced association between two solutes due to intermolecular attraction of the solvent molecules, is ubiquitous in organic chemistry and responsible for many significant phenomena thereof. However, there is …

Sensitivity Of The Cupid Experiment To Bragg-Primakoff Conversion Of Solar Axions And Alps, Kevin P. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The author reports in this dissertation on the application of a technique to use bolometer detector arrays, such as those of the CUORE experiment and its proposed upgrade CUPID, to search for 14.4 keV Solar axions arising from an M1 nuclear transition of thermally excited ⁵⁷Fe in the Solar core. Density functional theory calculations performed using QU A N T U M ESPRESSO for Li₂MoO₄ enable the computation of a time-dependent axionto-photon conversion rate in the bolometer crystals. These calculations predict that the proposed CUPID detector will be sensitive to Solar axions or axion-like particles that …

That’S My Deity: An Examination Of Online Lokean Cultures Through Log-Linear Modeling, Mary Bernstein

Senior Theses

A rise in online religious communities and the growth of so-called ‘Old World’ religions are reflected in the internet’s subcultures of Neopaganism, a growing religious movement that has been documented in America since the 1960s. The religions under this umbrella movement vary drastically and include belief systems such as Wicca, Druidry, and deity worship. Belief systems under this movement lack the traditional hierarchy found in structured religion and lack a singular sacred text. As such, believers usually find and support one another not through a physical sacred place of meeting, but through an online community that acts as sacred space. …