Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Exponential Formula For Random Variables Generated By Multiple Brownian Motions, Maximilian Lawrence Baroi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The frozen operator has been used to develop Dyson-series like representations for random variables generated by classical Brownian motion, Lévy processes and fractional Brownian with Hurst index greater than 1/2.The relationship between the conditional expectation of a random variable (or fractional conditional expectation in the case of fractional Brownian motion)and that variable's Dyson-series like representation is the exponential formula. These results had not yet been extended to either fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index less than 1/2, or d-dimensional Brownian motion. The former is still out of reach, but we hope our review of stochastic integration for fractional Brownian motion …

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies A Novel Mutation In Aspm And Ultra-Rare Mutation In Cdk5rap2 Causing Primary Microcephaly In Consanguineous Pakistani Families, Ehtisham Ul Haq Makhdoom, Haseeb Anwar, Shahid Mahmood Baig, Ghulam Hussain

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background & objectives: Primary Microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare neurogenetic disease, manifesting congenitally reduced head circumference and non-progressive intellectual disability (ID). To date, twenty-eight genes with biallelic mutations have been reported for this disorder. The study aimed for molecular genetic characterization of Pakistani families segregating MCPH.
Methods: We studied two unrelated consanguineous families (family A and B) presenting >2 patients with diagnostic symptoms of MCPH, born to asymptomatic parents. We employed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of probands to find putative causal mutations. The candidate variants were further confirmed and analyzed for co-segregation by Sanger sequencing of all available members of each …

A Highly Conductive, Flexible, And 3d-Printable Carbon Nanotube-Elastomer Ink For Additive Bio-Manufacturing, Andy Shar, Phillip Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.

UROP Posters

The synthesis of a highly conductive, flexible, 3D-printable, and biocompatible ink has been of great interest in the field of bio-based additive manufacturing. Various applications include ultra-sensitive, microscale tactile sensors, patient-customizable scaffolds for cardiac and nerve tissue regeneration, and flexible electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. Here, a novel elastomeric carbon nanocomposite is presented consisting of amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT-NH₂) homogenously dispersed in a one-part room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone matrix. The use of acetone as a swelling solvent aids in electrical percolation through the elastomer matrix. CNT-NH₂ ratios can be tuned to fit various needs; higher tensile strength is favored …

Review Of The Effects Of Asphalt Fume Emission (Vocs And Pahs) In Vitro, In Vivo And Human Studies, Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski, Elham Fini, Eran Rozewski, Judith Klein-Seetharaman

UROP Posters

Review of the effects of Asphalt fume emission (VOCs and PAHs) in vitro, in vivo and human studies

Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski¹

1) Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Background

Asphalt is abundantly available around human operations including road paving and roofing sites. However, their emissions and fumes (specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) have been found to have adverse effects on health. Asphalt fumes are a class 2A carcinogen and exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer, asthma, headache, fatigue, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Methods

We used …

A Participatory Group Process To Collect And Disseminate Covid-19 Needs Assessment Data, Areebah Ahmed

UROP Posters

The Richmond, VA COVID-19 Needs Assessment Survey (RVA CoNA) was created in March 2020 to identify behaviors and needs related to COVID-19 in Richmond area adults ages 18 and over. Results are being used to inform support, strategic efforts, and educational outreach of local community organizations. The purpose of this study is to (1) summarize the process used to develop the RVA CoNA, (2) summarize preliminary survey results from a second phase of data collection as well as initial feedback from community partners, and (3) summarize initial conclusions and results dissemination strategies.Community partners and researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University jointly …

Development And Initial Validation Of An Acculturation Measure For Arab Expatriates In Qatar Using Mixed Methods, Sara Ali Ahmed Zikri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prior research on acculturation has predominantly focused on specific immigrant and ethnic groups in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and there is a lack of publicly available scales that measure acculturation among expatriates in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The purpose of this study was to use a mixed methods research design to develop a theoretical framework of acculturation for white-collar Arab expatriates in Qatar as well as a culturally appropriate self-report acculturation measure. The acculturation stories and experiences of white-collar Arab expatriates in Qatar were qualitatively explored and analyzed, and their findings were used to construct an …

Drivers’ Response To Scenarios When Driving Connected And Automated Vehicles Compared To Vehicles With And Without Driver Assist Technology, Srinivas S. Pulugurtha, Raghuveer Gouribhatla

Mineta Transportation Institute

Traffic related crashes cause more than 38,000 fatalities every year in the United States. They are the leading cause of death among drivers up to 54 years in age and incur $871 million in losses each year. Driver errors contribute to about 94% of these crashes. In response, automotive companies have been developing vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that aid in various driving tasks. These features are aimed at enhancing safety by either warning drivers of a potential hazard or picking up certain driving maneuvers like maintaining the lane. These features are already part of vehicles with Driver …

Taming The Data In The Internet Of Vehicles, Shahab Tayeb

Mineta Transportation Institute

As an emerging field, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has a myriad of security vulnerabilities that must be addressed to protect system integrity. To stay ahead of novel attacks, cybersecurity professionals are developing new software and systems using machine learning techniques. Neural network architectures improve such systems, including Intrusion Detection System (IDSs), by implementing anomaly detection, which differentiates benign data packets from malicious ones. For an IDS to best predict anomalies, the model is trained on data that is typically pre-processed through normalization and feature selection/reduction. These pre-processing techniques play an important role in training a neural network to optimize …

Synergistically Employing User Stories And Use Cases In The Practice And Teaching Of Systems Analysis And Design, Gary Spurrier, Heikki Topi

Computer Information Systems Faculty Publications

Over the past three decades, user stories and use cases have become increasingly dominant requirements techniques. Both support articulating functional requirements for software projects, although they evolved within different software development approaches—user stories from agile development and use cases from traditional software engineering—and differ significantly in the level of requirements detail they can capture. As such, user stories and use cases are neither synonyms nor mutually exclusive alternatives. Rather, they can and should be complementary in the systems requirements process. Unfortunately, this mix of similarities and differences—coupled with a lack of formal standards for either—make understanding and synergistically employing user …

Athena Detector Proposal — A Totally Hermetic Electron Nucleus Apparatus Proposed For Ip6 At The Electron-Ion Collider, The Athena Collaboration

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity. This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&D required to meet those challenges.

"Reeling In" Juvenile Sportfish Through Coastal Habitat Restoration: Population, Community, And Trophic Responses In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Jennifer Loch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Coastal habitats provide crucial nursery habitat for predatory fishes, but they are in decline worldwide, impacting economically important fisheries. Habitat restoration can simultaneously mitigate the effects of habitat loss and benefit predators (e.g., sportfish), although this relationship is understudied. Here, the response of juvenile sportfish to oyster reef and living shoreline restoration is compared to controls in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida prior to and following restoration for up to three years through examination of community (diversity, assemblage), population (abundance), biometric (size, body condition), ontogenetic, and trophic (gut contents, stable isotopes) dynamics. Stable isotopes were used to quantify dietary history, …

Electronic And Optoelectronic Properties Of Two-Dimensional Heterostructures For Next-Generation Device Technologies, Jesse Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Since monolayer graphene was isolated in 2004, there has been significant interest in integrating layered materials into innovative device designs and hybrid materials to help solve pressing technological challenges. This is partially because they can typically be thinned to a two-dimensional (2D) form without suffering from roughness-induced scattering and can exhibit thickness-dependent variations in properties such as their energy band gap. This dissertation reports on investigations of electronic and optoelectronic device physics in 2D material heterostructures. The investigation of electronic device physics focuses on the interface between 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and gold (Au), which behaves as a resistive switching …

Machine Learning In Fiber Optics, Xiaowen Hu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Recent burgeoning machine learning has revolutionized our ways of looking at the world. Being extraordinarily good at pattern recognition, machine learning has been widely applied to many fields to solve challenging problems. This dissertation demonstrates the applications of machine learning on scanning-free fiber-optic imaging systems (FOISs), and on the design of anti-resonant fibers. In the first part, we propose a semi-supervised learning framework called the adaptive inverse mapping (AIP) to stabilize the imaging performance through multimode fibers (MMFs). We show that if the state of the MMF is traced closely, the output images can be used as probes to correct …

Population Persistence And Disease Invasion In Heterogenous Networks, Poroshat Yazdanbakhshghahyazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The problem of understanding how biological species and infectious diseases can persist and spread in heterogeneous networks has brought a wide attention, recently highlighted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This dissertation investigates the connection between the structures of heterogeneous networks and population persistence/disease invasion. To do so, we propose a new index for network heterogeneity by employing the Laplacian matrix of population dispersal and its corresponding group inverse. The network growth rate and reproduction number can be evaluated using the network average and the network heterogeneity index as the first and second order approximation, respectively. We also illustrate the impact …

Towards More Efficient Collaborative Distributed Data Analysis And Learning, Zixia Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Modern information era gives rise to the persistent generation of large amounts of data with rapid speed and broad geographical distribution. Obtaining knowledge and understanding via analysis and learning from such data have invaluable worth. Features of such data analytical tasks commonly include: data can be large scale and geographically distributed; computing capability demand can be enormous; tasks can be time-critical; some data can be private; participants can have heterogeneous capabilities and non-IID data; and multiple simultaneously submitted data analytical tasks can be possible. These bring challenges to contemporary computing infrastructure and learning models. In view of this, we develop …

Observation Of Anisotropic Properties In Topological Quantum Materials, Gyanendra Dhakal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The discovery of the three-dimensional topological insulator (TI) has enormously impacted our understanding of quantum materials. These novel materials are characterized by the topology rather than some order parameters. The TIs are the materials that exhibit insulating properties in the bulk while possessing the metallic state on the surface. These surface states are protected by time-reversal symmetry; as a result, the electrons featuring surface states are spin-polarized. After the discovery of TIs, other topological semimetallic (TSM) states were discovered, which enhanced the understanding and widened the reach of topological materials. Discoveries of various topological phases such as Dirac, Weyl, nodal …

Volume Bragg Gratings With Complex Phase Structures: A Three-Dimensional Foundation For Laser-Beam Engineering, Lam Mach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Bragg diffraction is a natural phenomenon that arises from the coherent interference of scattered waves in multilayer structures with a well-defined periodicity. In practice, the physical size of these multilayer structures varies depending on the intended application, from micrometer-thick dielectric mirrors with tens of layers to centimeter-long Bragg gratings with ten-thousands of layers. The scope of this work centers around a unique class of multilayer elements developed in bulk photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass – the volume Bragg grating (VBG). The content of this thesis places an emphasis on the volume nature of these Bragg devices, implying a three-dimensional structure whereupon arbitrary …

Design Of A High-Power Terahertz Emitter Array Using A High-Temperature Superconductor, Ruqayyah Shouk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

By applying a dc voltage V across the stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions naturally present in the high-temperature superconductor consisting of two parts bismuth, two parts strontium, one part calcium, two parts copper, and a bit more than eight parts oxygen, several groups have been able to obtain coherent THz emission at output powers in the µW range. In order to enhance the output power well into the mW range suitable for many applications, we have studied a compact design of a stand-alone mesa array with gold layers on the top and bottom of the superconductor. In this design, an …

Surface Engineering For Controlled Growth And Deposition Of Nanomaterials - Assembly And Design At The Nano-Microscale, David Fox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Materials with nanoscale dimensions offer several important benefits over bulk materials (e.g. increased surface area, low-cost, deviation from bulk properties, etc.). Such materials are critical components for next-generation energy storage materials, optoelectronic devices, and catalyst systems. However, these materials are often processed in liquid media, and their diminutive structures are fragile in the presence of capillary forces. As such, preparing uniform and stable nanomaterial coatings is a significant challenge. Herein, we discuss an approach where the substrate itself is factored into the assembly and growth of these materials. First, nanoporous surfaces were utilized to achieve a uniform deposition of one-dimensional …

Terahertz Spintronics With Antiferromagnetic Insulators, Gyan Khatri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The existence of the THz gap in the electromagnetic spectrum is not only preventing the advancement of several technologies but also hindering research and developmental activities due to a lack of research facilities operating in the gap region. There is a plethora of materials with dynamics lying in the THz gap region whose study could potentially lead to the development of new technologies for the generation, detection, and processing of THz signals. Antiferromagnets are gaining recent interest due to their high frequency dynamics lying in the THz region, and their potential uses as active elements in THz spintronics devices have …

Raman Excitation Laser Effects On Peak Parameters And Peak Metamorphic Temperatures Of Primitive Carbonaceous Chondrites, Amy Lebleu-Debartola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

MicroRaman (µRaman) spectroscopy is often regarded as a non-destructive technique, utilized to analyze limited materials, both terrestrial and extraterrestrial. Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites are of particular interest but they are dark (low albedo) materials, and thus absorb the majority of incident visible light. Raman excitation lasers can induce considerable localized heating, even when low laser powers are used. It has been previously suggested to utilize low power lasers of =0.4 mW to minimize damaging carbonaceous samples in several fields, including Meteoritics, Geology, Chemistry, and Paleontology. Peak Metamorphic Temperatures (PMT) experienced by the meteorite can be estimated from Raman fitting parameters related …

Electrochemical Gelation Of Metal Chalcogenide Quantum Dots, Chathuranga Chinthana Hewa Rahinduwage

Wayne State University Dissertations

Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive because of their unique size-dependent optical and electronic properties and high surface area. They are tested in research for diverse applications, including energy conversion, catalysis, and sensing. Assembling QDs into functional solid-state devices while preserving their attractive properties is a challenge. Methods currently under the research are not effective in directly fabricating QDs onto devices, making large area assemblies, maintaining the high surface area by forming 3D porous structures, and conducting electricity for applications such as sensing. QD gels are an example of QD assemblies that consist of a 3D porous interconnected QD network. They …

Long Island Horseshoe Crab Network Annual Inventory Report, Cercom, Molloy University, John Tanacredi Ph.D., Kyle F. Maurelli

CERCOM Reports

CERCOM monitors 115 beach locations from Brooklyn – Montauk during the optimal Limulus Polyphemus breeding season. These beach surveys take place for approximately 15 weeks, ranging from May - August. These beach locations are marked specifically using GPS coordinates, to assure the same location is visited each year. Students and volunteers are required to attend a HSC Survey training orientation led by CERCOM’s research assistant, Mr. Kyle Maurelli. Surveying is done around tide and moon cycles (New/Full Moon). Each site takes about 1-2 hours and data is recorded along an approximate 1 mile distance. Walking along the water’s edge the …

Tolle Lege Works Published In 2022, Mcquade Library

Bibliographies

Compiled Tolle Lege bibliography of works published by members of the Merrimack College Community in 2022. Works include journal articles, books, book chapters, conference presentations and posters, and more.

Examining Trends And Experiences Of The Last Four Years Of Socially Engineered Ransomware Attacks, William Seymour

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study examines and reports the trends of social engineering-based ransomware attacks over the past four years from three major technology corporations. The focus of the reports was on major threat actors and their attacks against the corporations and their clients. The data were organized chronologically by year, and prevalent or abnormal findings were shared in this report. It was found that social engineering attacks were tremendously effective. Many ransomware attacks stemmed from Phishing. Social engineering approaches allowed attackers to conduct breaches using ransomware applications like GandCrab and Ryuk. Humans are incredibly susceptible and fall for social engineering tactics- primarily …

Corporate Cybersecurity In The Context Of M&A Transactions, Cameron Beck

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The rapid rise of digital devices has unlocked a new dimension of innovation and prosperity in the 21st century. Computers are now an integrated and ubiquitous part of our global culture. You would be hard-pressed to walk into any given room without several computer chips humming inaudibly inside the machines that facilitate our modern world. Even lightbulbs and doorbells are connected to the Internet, capturing information from the world around them and sending that information to the Cloud. The Internet expands access to communication, international marketplaces, entertainment, professional resources, and nearly every book in the world.

Random Password Generation, Kirk Smith

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper will discuss the topic of random generation, first by explaining the topic, followed by how the literature review was performed. Then, a literature review will be performed, followed by a discussion of human biases and the strength of random password generation.

The Future Of Blockchain, Elijah N. Gartrell

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Blockchain is the leading technology for cryptocurrencies, NFT’s and other online marketplace transactions that go through it because of it’s secure technology and how they distribute their data with Smart Contracts. This report shows how we can use Blockchain for other uses in our world and how it could advance us in the cybersecurity aspects. Showing also why we should use blockchain with basic cybersecurity concerns as in: Malware Detection, Voter Fraud, and Medical Record Security.

Increased Caribbean Seismicity And Volcanism During Minima In Earth's Rotation Rate: Search For A Physical Mechanism And A 2030 Forecast, Roger Bilham, Walter Szeliga, David Mencin, Rebecca Bendick

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Three quarters of all Mw ≥ 6.6 earthquakes and volcanic eruptions surrounding the Caribbean plate occur preferentially during periods of decadal minima in Earth’s angular spin velocity. This correlation is revealed most clearly as a 4–6 years phase lag following the first derivative of the length of the day (LOD), Earth’s angular deceleration. We show that local strains and displacements resulting from oblateness changes, or plate boundary stresses associated with changes in tropical rotation rates are orders of magnitude lower than those typically associated with earthquake or volcano triggering. Notwithstanding the absence of a satisfactory causal physical mechanism, the relationship …

Cryogenic Magnetic Field Monitoring System In The Sns Neutron Edm Experiment, Umit Hasan Coskun

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

A permanent neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM), d_n, would violate charge-conjugation and parity (CP) symmetry. The neutron electric dipole moment currently has a global limit of d_n < 1.8 x 10^-26 e cm (90% CL). This limit is intended to be improved by two orders of magnitude by the nEDM experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS nEDM), d_n ~ 10^-28 e cm. The magnetic field non-uniformities within the experimental region must be precisely monitored and managed in order to suppress systematic effects in the experiment caused by magnetic field gradients. The estimation of magnetic field components within …