Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Toi-836: A Super-Earth And Mini-Neptune Transiting A Nearby K-Dwarf, F. Hawthorn, D. Bayliss, T. G. Wilson, A. Bonfanti, V. Adibekyan, Y. Alibert, S. G. Sousa, K. A. Collins, E. M. Bryant, A. Osborn, D. J. Armstrong, L. Abe, J. S. Acton, B. C. Addison, K. Agabi, R. Alonso, D. R. Alves, G. Anglada-Escudé, T. Bárczy, T. Barclay, D. Barrado, S. C. C. Barros, W. Baumjohann, P. Bendjoya, W. Benz, A. Bieryla, X. Bonfils, F. Bouchy, A. Brandeker, C. Broeg, D. J. A. Brown, M. R. Burleigh, M. Buttu, J. Cabrera, D. A. Caldwell, S. L. Casewell, D. Charbonneau, S. Charnoz, R. Cloutier, A. Collier Cameron, K. I. Collins, D. M. Conti, N. Crouzet, S. Czismadia, M. B. Davies, M. Deleuil, E. Delgado-Mena, L. Delrez, O. D. S. Demangeon, B.-O. Demoray, G. Dransfield, X. Dumusque, J. A. Egger, D. Ehrenreich, P. Eigmüller, A. Erickson, Z. Essack, A. Fortier, L. Fossati, M. Fridlund, M. N. Günther, M. Güdel, D. Gandolfi, H. Gillard, M. Gillon, C. Gnilka, M. R. Goad, R. F. Goeke, T. Guillot, A. Hadjigeorghiou, C. Hellier, B. A. Henderson, K. Heng, M. J. Hooton, K. Horne, S. B. Howell, S. Hoyer, J. M. Irwin, J. S. Jenkins, J. M. Jenkins, Eric L.N. Jensen, S. R. Kane, A. Kendall, J. F. Kielkopf, L. L. Kiss, G. Lacedelli, J. Laskar, D. W. Latham, A. Lecavalier Des Etangs, A. Leleu, M. Lendl, J. Lillo-Box, C. Lovis, D. Mékarnia, B. Massey, T. Masters, P. F. L. Maxted, V. Nascimbeni, L. D. Nielsen, S. M. O'Brien, G. Olofsson, H. P. Osborn, I. Pagano, E. Pallé, C. M. Persson, G. Piotto, P. Plavchan, D. Pollacco, D. Queloz, R. Ragazzoni, H. Rauer, I. Ribas, G. Ricker, D. Ségransan, S. Salmon, A. Santerne, N. C. Santos, G. Scandariato, F.-X. Schmider, R. P. Schwarz, S. Seager, A. Shporer, A. E. Simon, A. M. S. Smith, G. Srdoc, M. Steller, O. Suarez, G. M. Szabó, J. Teske, N. Thomas, R. H. Tilbrook, A. H. M. J. Triaud, S. Udry, V. Van Grootel, N. Walton, S. X. Wang, P. J. Wheatley, J. N. Winn, R. A. Wittenmyer, H. Zhang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We present the discovery of two exoplanets transiting TOI-836 (TIC 440887364) using data from TESS Sector 11 and Sector 38. TOI-836 is a bright (T = 8.5 mag), high proper motion (∼200 mas yr⁻¹), low metallicity ([Fe/H]≈−0.28) K-dwarf with a mass of 0.68 ± 0.05 M_⊙ and a radius of 0.67 ± 0.01 R⊙. We obtain photometric follow-up observations with a variety of facilities, and we use these data sets to determine that the inner planet, TOI-836 b, is a 1.70 ± 0.07 R_⊕ super-Earth in a 3.82-d orbit, placing it directly within the so-called …

Econ 603: Time Series Analysis, Kenneth M. Rich

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Math 576: Mathematical Statistics Ii, Hailin Sang

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Math 776: Robust Statistics, Xin (Sheen) Dang

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Mktg 666: Mktg 666 Research Methods 2 Seminar, Saim Kashmiri

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Nhm 526: Statistics I In Nutrition And Hospitality Management, Hyun-Woo (David) Joung Ph.D.

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Zonality In Graphs, Andrew Bowling

Dissertations

Graph labeling and coloring are among the most popular areas of graph theory due to both the mathematical beauty of these subjects as well as their fascinating applications. While the topic of labeling vertices and edges of graphs has existed for over a century, it was not until 1966 when Alexander Rosa introduced a labeling, later called a graceful labeling, that brought the area of graph labeling to the forefront in graph theory. The subject of graph colorings, on the other hand, goes back to 1852 when the young British mathematician Francis Guthrie observed that the countries in a map …

High-Dimensional Variable Selection Via Knockoffs Using Gradient Boosting, Amr Essam Mohamed

Dissertations

As data continue to grow rapidly in size and complexity, efficient and effective statistical methods are needed to detect the important variables/features. Variable selection is one of the most crucial problems in statistical applications. This problem arises when one wants to model the relationship between the response and the predictors. The goal is to reduce the number of variables to a minimal set of explanatory variables that are truly associated with the response of interest to improve the model accuracy. Effectively choosing the true influential variables and controlling the False Discovery Rate (FDR) without sacrificing power has been a challenge …

Using Cyclic-Step Chronopotentiometry To Explore Electron Mobility In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Jasmine Hopson, Ian Mcneil

Honors Projects

In this project, we are making dye-sensitized solar cells using titanium dioxide and the dye from raspberries. We are exploring how electrons diffuse through these systems. To do this, we perform cyclic chronopotentiometry where we cycle between periods of applying a voltage to achieve a certain current and periods where the current is stopped. We focus on the time-dependent decay of the voltage when the current is stopped and fit these decays with a bi-exponential model. We compare the results of devices with and without lithium perchlorate in the electrolyte solution since lithium lowers the energies of the acceptor states …

Sporadic Spin-Orbit Variations In Compact Multiplanet Systems And Their Influence On Exoplanet Climate, Howard Chen, Gongjie Li, Adiv Paradise, Ravi K. Kopparapu

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

Climate modeling has shown that tidally influenced terrestrial exoplanets, particularly those orbiting M-dwarfs, have unique atmospheric dynamics and surface conditions that may enhance their likelihood to host viable habitats. However, sporadic libration and rotation induced by planetary interactions, such as those due to mean motion resonances (MMR) in compact planetary systems, may destabilize attendant exoplanets away from synchronized states (1:1 spin-orbit ratios). Here, we use a three-dimensional N-rigid-body integrator and an intermediately complex general circulation model to simulate the evolving climates of TRAPPIST-1 e and f with different orbitaland spin-evolution pathways. Planet f scenarios perturbed by MMR effects with chaotic …

Exploring The Relationships Between Land Surface Temperature And Its Influencing Factors Using Multisource Spatial Big Data: A Case Study In Beijing, China, Xiaoxi Wang, Yaojun Zhang, Danlin Yu

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

A better understanding of the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and its influencing factors is important to the livable, healthy, and sustainable development of cities. In this study, we focused on the potential effect of human daily activities on LST from a short-term perspective. Beijing was selected as a case city, and Weibo check-in data were employed to measure the intensity of human daily activities. MODIS data were analyzed and used for urban LST measurement. We adopted spatial autocorrelation analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and spatial autoregressive model to explore the influence mechanism of LST, and the study was performed …

Tourism, Mapping, Retail And Recreational Trails: A Case Study Of Connectivity Between Trails And Adjacent Downtowns In Anniston, Alabama, Usa, Jennifer Green

Theses

This study examines the estimated increase in economic impact on a geography’s local economy by creating cross-marketing efforts between expanding an established outdoor recreation trail to a closely located city downtown commerce district. This research will analyze the resulting potential rise in sales/lodging tax revenues for that city by mapping the trail and downtown district, and cross-marketing the other to users of both or either venue. Potential increase in economic impact will be estimated utilizing IMPLAN methodology by assessing the economic impact on the local economy that a percentage range of increased spending resulting from this cross-marketing effort could generate.

Investigating The Use Of Recurrent Neural Networks In Modeling Guitar Distortion Effects, Caleb Koch, Scott Hawley, Andrew Fyfe

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Guitar players have been modifying their guitar tone with audio effects ever since the mid-20th century. Traditionally, these effects have been achieved by passing a guitar signal through a series of electronic circuits which modify the signal to produce the desired audio effect. With advances in computer technology, audio “plugins” have been created to produce audio effects digitally through programming algorithms. More recently, machine learning researchers have been exploring the use of neural networks to replicate and produce audio effects initially created by analog and digital effects units. Recurrent Neural Networks have proven to be exceptional at modeling audio effects …

Identifying Genes Influencing The Efficiency Of Photosynthesis, Jason M. Rivera, Steven Burgess

PRECS student projects

• Photosynthesis adapts to environmental conditions over time.¹

• Varying environmental conditions lead to stress accumulation on the plant.²

• A genetic library has been assembled for forward genetic screening of Arabidopsis thaliana.³

• Arabidopsis Thaliana is a model plant used as a model organism in growth experiments.

• This research project aims to identify and analyze candidate genes that impact the efficiency of photosynthesis.

• These genes can be transplanted into commercial crops to increase efficiency of photosynthesis and crop yields.

Confirming Presence And Mobilization Of Partner Quality Genes In Sinorhizobium Meliloti, Ethan Perez, Ivan Sosa Marquez, Katy Heath

PRECS student projects

• Mutualism is an interaction in which two organisms benefit from each other.
• The symbiotic relationship between the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and the plant Medicago truncatula is dictated by the bacterial plasmids.
• The Heath lab has a collection of 191 Sinorhizobium meliloti strains with different symbiotic plasmids that vary across populations (Riley et al., 2022).
• Each strain can be a better or worse partner for its plant host in symbiosis with the variation in fitness being called partner quality (Fig. 1)
• These traits can be traced back to the genetic elements that underlie this effect (Batstone et al.,
• These genetic elements …

Fusarium Isolates Adapt To Specific Wheat Tissues, Liam Kent, Mara Krone, Santiago Mideros

PRECS student projects

Introduction

Tissue specificity is a pathogen’s preference for infecting one section of tissue (i.e., root, stem, or head) over another. 1 Having a better understanding of a pathogen’s ability to cause disease on specific tissues could contribute to new mechanisms of disease control. This will allow growers to make the best decision on effective pathogen management. In 2022, Fusarium isolates were collected from wheat heads and roots across Illinois. These isolates were used in a pathogen aggressiveness assay on wheat roots, in an in vitro growth rate experiment , and in the development of a spore quantification protocol. The phenotypic …

Role Of Age And Sex In The Effects Of Repeated Methamphetamine Exposure On Hedonic Tone In Sprague Dawley Rats, Cameron Lewis, Conor Strumberger, Joshua M. Gulley

PRECS student projects

Anhedonia is defined as a reduced or complete loss of pleasure from a previously pleasurable stimulus, and it is comprised of two dimensions:

• Hedonic anhedonia consists of a distinct loss of pleasure in consumption of a normally pleasurable stimulus.
• Motivational anhedonia involves the goal directed behavior to obtain a reward.

Withdrawal induced anhedonia following use of methamphetamine (METH) is thought to contribute to relapse behaviors^1,2 . The anhedonic effects of drug withdrawal largely depend on dose, frequency, and the duration of drug exposure^4,5,6.

The role of sex and age of exposure in this context has yet to …

Acth Challenge: Stress Response Across Tadpole Development, Lauren W. Mobo, Lucas Jimenez, Lisa L. Surber-Cunningham, Eva K. Fischer

PRECS student projects

Research Questions

1. Do tadpoles excrete more cortisol or corticosterone?
2. Do tadpoles excrete more corticosterone after ACTH injections?
3. Does the ACTH stress response change across development?

The Tomato Strikes Back: Plant Response To Environmental Stress, Maya K. Davis, Erinn Dady, Esther N. Ngumbi

PRECS student projects

Introduction

• Tomato is an important vegetable. Its production is threatened due to altered weather patterns which increase environmental stressors such as flooding^{1, 2} and herbivory³ to crops.
• Plants respond in many ways. Stressed plants strike back to environmental stress by altering their chemistry⁴:

1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions
2. Defensive secondary metabolites²

• Stress induced physiological changes in plants impact growth and development of insects.
• This study is broken into two experiments:

1. The plant response to flooding stress
2. The insect performance on flooded plants

Potential Implications Of Elevated Co2 For Enhanced Rock Weathering In Croplands, Hannah Maher, Megan Allen, Lisa Ainsworth

PRECS student projects

• Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels are increasing by 2.37 ppm year, and levels have increased from about 370 ppm in 2000 to about 420 ppm in 2023¹
• Increased CO₂ levels result in climate change, including increased temperatures and drought which impacts soybean crops
• Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is the process of spreading basalt on fields to accelerate the natural reaction between rocks, CO2, and water²
• Enhanced Rock Weathering is a possible way to combat increasing CO₂ levels because of its carbon sequestration properties²

Revisiting The Reproductive Behaviors Of Blackspotted Stickleback, Cassidy Constant, Megan Tucker, Colby Behrens, Alison M. Bell

PRECS student projects

Why Blackspotted Stickleback?

How Behaviors Evolve Comparing closely related species can give insights into how behavior evolves.

Well studied: Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

• Model organism for natural variation in behavioral evolution 1.
• Divergence in parental care in two ecotypes1,2.
• White and common ecotypes recently diverged 2.

Lesser studied: Blackspotted Stickleback (Gasterosteus wheatlandi)

• Three-spined’s closest living relative.
• Possible behavioral intermediate of commons & whites.
• Blackspotted egg dispersal is similar to white three-spined 3.

How Fungicide Alters The Hidden Mycobiome Of A Restored Prairie System, Mya Reyes, Noah Brown, Anthony Yannarell

PRECS student projects

• Fungal Endophytes are microscopic fungi that live inside plant tissues and form a symbiotic relationship that influences the fitness of both parties.

• Fungicides are a widely used method of crop disease control in agriculture, but fungicides can be carried into other environments by water and wind.

• This experiment looks at how long-term fungicide exposure affects diversity of fungal endophytes that are grown in vitro as well as screens them for phosphate solubilization ability.

• Phosphate is a vital macronutrient that is essential for making nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) as well as playing a vital role in energy transfer throughout the plant's …

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Critical Workforce Skills For Bachelor-Level Geoscientists: An Analysis Of Geoscience Job Advertisements, G. W. Shafer, K. Viskupic, A. E. Egger

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding the skills bachelor-level geoscientists need to enter the workforce is critical to their success. The goal of this study was to identify the workforce skills that are most requested from a broad range of geoscience employers. We collected 3668 job advertisements for bachelor-level geoscientists and used a case-insensitive, code-matching function in Matlab to determine the skills geoscience employers seek. Written communication (67%), field skills (63%), planning (53%), and driving (51%) were most frequently requested. Field skills and data collection were frequently found together in the ads. Written communication skills were common regardless of occupation. Quantitative skills were requested less …

Tectonomagmatic Evolution Of Southwestern Laurentia: Insights From Zircon U-Pb Geochronology And Hafnium Isotopic Composition Of The Red Bluff Granite Suite, West Texas, Usa, Munazzam Ali Mahar, Philip C. Goodell, Jason W. Ricketts, Eric J. Kappus, James L. Crowley, Anthony M. Alvarez

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

We provide laser ablation–multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) and high-precision chemical abrasion–isotope dilution–thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of zircons from the Red Bluff Granite Suite and mafic dikes in the Franklin Mountains of El Paso, Texas, USA. Granitoids exposed in the Franklin Mountains were previously divided into five magmatic stages based on cross-cutting relationships. Major and trace element compositions showed that these granitoids are ferroan, alkaline, and A2 type. Homogeneity in the whole-rock geochemistry suggests that the granite stages are genetically related and share similar petrogenetic histories. Weighted mean zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U …

Advances In Our Understanding Of Pyroclastic Current Behavior From The 1980 Eruption Sequence Of Mount St. Helens Volcano (Washington), Usa, Brittany D. Brand, Aaron A. Marshall

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

This review summarizes what the volcanology community has learned thus far from studying the deposits of pyroclastic currents (PCs) from the 1980 eruption sequence at Mount St. Helens. The review includes mass flow events during the May 18 eruption, including the lateral blast, the afternoon column collapse and boil-over PC activity, and some aspects of the debris avalanche. We also include a summary of PCs generated in the smaller eruptions following the climactic May 18 event. Our objective is to summarize the state of our understanding of PC transport and emplacement mechanisms from the combination of field and laboratory observations, …

Human Population Growth And Accessibility From Cities Shape Rangeland Condition In The American West, Juan M. Requena-Mullor, Jodi Brandt, Matthew A. Williamson, T. Trevor Caughlin

Human-Environment Systems Research Center Faculty Publications and Presentations

Drylands cover 40 % of the global land surface and more than 3 billion people worldwide are dependent on the ecosystem services (ES) that they provide (Hoover et al., 2020). Dryland ecosystems are subject to multiple forces of change, including climate change, invasive plants, and increasing wildfires (Maestre et al., 2016). For example, human pressure and land use intensification can quickly induce changes in healthy drylands that lead to degradation, thus reducing their capacity to recover from extreme climate events (Gunderson, 2000, Sun et al., 2021). We define degradation as a transition from a functional native ecosystem to an undesired …

A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Cork Versus Traditional Shoe Insole Material, Alexandra Lum

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Shoes are conventionally produced from materials like plastic or rubber that have detrimental impacts on the environment such as exacerbating existing waste accumulation, increasing global amounts of greenhouse gasses, or releasing toxic chemicals into soils and groundwater. These impacts have pushed footwear companies to introduce more sustainable and ecologically-friendly materials in their products. Roughly half of all cork production occurs in Portugal. The present work employs a comparative life cycle assessment approach between traditional plastic and rubber insole material and cork insole material to investigate the environmental impact of each. Results show that during each stage of the insole life …

Wishing For Water While Fleeing Their Farms: A Study Of Water Scarcity And Internal Migration In Tunisia, Tyler Rak

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

How does water scarcity and limited water access impact internal migration? I argue that water scarcity and limited access to water is likely to increase internal migration in Tunisia. The mechanism through which I will investigate this relationship is in the agricultural sector. In this research, I found that water scarcity does exist in Tunisia and that scarcity impacts the economy, employment, and perceptions of rural areas in Tunisia. This, in turn, likely contributes to internal migration, although my research could not conclude whether water scarcity acts a causative factor to internal migration. This topic has become more prevalent than …

Neoliberalismo Y La Mar: Los Efectos Del Sistema Neoliberal Y La Pesca Artesanal De Caleta Portales, Isaac Bronfine

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study is meant to explore the fundamental conflict between the neoliberal system implemented in Chilean society and the artisanal fishing sector, represented by Caleta Diego Portales in Valparaíso, Chile. The struggle of the artisanal fishing sector has been made more salient in the minds of the general Chilean public due to the estallido social or “social explosion” in 2019 which lead to a process of drafting a new constitution, and the recent corruption scandals regarding government officials and fishing law reforms.

Beginning with how neoliberal theory gained traction in intellectual spaces around the world, this study then examines how …

Hydrological Patterns Of The Chimborazo Reserve: Streamflow, Climate, And Glacier Recession Data Show A Loss Of Glacial Influence On The Southwestern Aspect Of The Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador., William F. M. Patrick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Chimborazo volcano of the central Ecuadorian Andean Cordillera (6310 m) has been shown to currently be undergoing extreme glacial recession due to climate change. For this reason, this study sought to analyze climate and glacier recession data in conjunction with streamflow from kryal (glacial-fed), rhithral (non-glacial-fed), and intermediate streams to not only evaluate the current health of Chimborazo’s glaciers, but also determine how hydrology in the region will respond to future climate change. The rate of glacial recession on the volcano was determined using satellite imagery between 1965 and 2019. Measurements of stream elevation, pH, water temperature, width, depth, …